A feel-good read deserving of a permanent home on bookshelves.
Their search for something “soft” and “waggy” turns Mr. and Mrs. Gargleson-Bittle’s house into a menagerie.
The darling couple with love and a home to share “want…something a little bit lick-your-face-play-fetch-roll-over-rub-its-belly-and-chase-its-tail.” They start with a snail they name Gordon. But Gordon isn’t quite waggy enough, so on they go looking for just the right thing, acquiring an elephant, a whale, an octopus, and a wombat, among many other animals. Finally, they find just the right fluffy, waggy, lick-y sort of creature. Bates’ illustrations are absolute perfection. Each scratch of colored pencil is expertly used, adding shadow, a glowing warmth, and texture. The title page, depicting a framed portrait of the protagonists, each sporting a yellow flower, makes clear from the start that Mr. and Mrs. Gargleson-Bittle are a quirky, loving, and expressive pair. Everything from their gloom to their joy is believable and apparent. All the creatures they welcome into their home are equally dynamic: the snail curled up in a bassinet, the octopus with its multitasking tentacles, even the disgruntled cat who refuses to fetch. Bates has created two characters whose “the more, the merrier” attitude makes for a deeply loving home where everyone belongs. The gorgeous illustrations and lovely storyline make this an instant classic. Mrs. Gargleson-Bittle is brown-skinned; Mr. Gargleson-Bittle is light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A feel-good read deserving of a permanent home on bookshelves. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2023
ISBN: 9781534492325
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2023
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet notion that falls flat.
A hit song reimagined as a book about parental love.
Featured in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1, Perri’s “A Thousand Years” deals with the speaker’s fear of romantic love. In picture-book form, it explores a parent’s unwavering love for a child, who grows from an infant into a toddler over the course of the narrative. The caregiver expresses awe when the youngster learns to stand and fear that the child might fall while beginning to walk. “I have spent every day waiting for you,” the parent says. “Darling, don’t be afraid.” What the child might fear isn’t clear from the joyful balloon- and rainbow-filled illustrations. The story borders on cloying, and words that might work when sung and accompanied by music don’t sound fresh on the page: “Time goes by. / You grow ever stronger as you fly.” The refrain, however, is a lovely sentiment: “I have loved you for a thousand years. / I’ll love you for a thousand more.” Perri’s legion of fans may flock to this version, illustrated by Ruiz with sparkling stars, bubbles, and big-eyed toddlers, but it doesn’t hold together as a narrative or an ode, as it’s billed, and it’s a long way from the original song. The child is tan-skinned, the parent is lighter-skinned, and other characters are diverse.
A sweet notion that falls flat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9780593622599
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
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