bookshelf

THE YELLOW TUTU

Name: THE YELLOW TUTU
Author: Kirsten Bramsen
ISBN: 978-0-375-85168-1

by Kirsten Bramsen & illustrated by Carin Bramsen ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 22, 2009

bookshelf

When Margo receives a golden tutu for her birthday, she decides to wear it as a sparkly hairpiece instead of a dance costume. In light of her sunnier disposition, she envisions a brighter world. “Would the pavement heat up when she walked by, warmed by the brilliance of her rays?” Predictably, she is ridiculed for her unusual attire until a classmate defends Margo’s creative spirit. While the girl’s quirky independence is surprisingly refreshing, secondary characters are underdeveloped, doing little to spice up the too-sweet story. Occasionally, unnecessary details plod the pacing, while the conflict’s too neatly resolved. Margo’s tutu is the dominant feature against illustrator Bramsen’s cool blue backgrounds; splashes of yellow rays convey a feathery, spongy texture. During lighthearted moments, whimsical daydreams exhibit a dreamlike glow, though Margo shines most in her isolation. In the depth of her vulnerability, with knees bent and head bowed, Margo’s wilted tutu completely hides her face. Unfortunately, characters’ occasionally gooey expressions disrupt the gentle pictorial narrative, leaving more sparkle than substance. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2009

ISBN: 978-0-375-85168-1

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2009

Categories:

CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

bookshelf

I WANT A HIPPOPOTAMUS FOR CHRISTMAS

by John Rox & illustrated by Bruce Whatley ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2005

bookshelf

The words to a Christmas song from the 1950s serve as the text for this exploration of a most unusual Christmas gift. An unnamed little girl in pink pajamas is the first-person narrator, explaining in detail why she wants a hippopotamus as her present. Various views of the hippo are shown in a slightly confusing, nonlinear time sequence, but then why would time proceed in a straightforward fashion with a hippo in the house? Santa is shown pushing the hippo through the door, and the following pages show the little girl caring for her hippo, unwrapping it as a Christmas package (a different packaging treatment is shown on the cover), and then flying off with Santa as the hippo pulls the sleigh. Though the little girl and the words to the song are rather ordinary, the lively, lavender hippo in Whatley’s illustrations is a delightful creature, with a big, pink bow on its head and expressive, bulging eyes. (In fact, that hippo deserves a name and a story of its own.) The music and song lyrics are included in the final spread. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2005

ISBN: 0-06-052942-3

Page Count: 32

Publisher: HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2005

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

bookshelf

PUMPKIN DAY!

by Candice Ransom ; illustrated by Erika Meza ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 25, 2015

A warm and welcome story for emerging readers and their families.

bookshelf

Pumpkins star in this family-centered early reader.

Sketched in rhyming, easy-to-read couplets, this familiar autumn setting is made even warmer by the sweet family that is making a trip to the pumpkin farm. “Sunny day. Pack a lunch. / In the treetops squirrels munch.” So begins the story of a black mother and father and their young son and daughter. They find their special pumpkins and return home for carving, just in time for trick-or-treating. Mother and father are shown walking hand in hand or gently guiding their youngsters, who are very excited to pick out the perfect gourd. Read aloud, the predictable rhyme scans well, making this a book for emerging readers to read over and over, gaining confidence each time. The full-color illustrations, full of oranges and yellows, match the words, providing important visual cues. Little ones will laugh when the younger brother initially finds a huge pumpkin and rolls it over the hill like a bowling ball. “Thump! Thump! Thump! Then… / Uh-oh!” Eventually, he finds one just the right size for carving. Children of color are remarkably absent in the easy-reader stacks, so it’s an especially welcome treat to see them in this rural setting. Preschool and kindergarten teachers will want to add this to their collections.

A warm and welcome story for emerging readers and their families. (Early reader. 3-6)