Emerging readers will appreciate the feel of a chapter book, but this dynamic duo will surely be adored (and envied) by all...
When Uncle Bill visits, adventure is never far behind!
The doorbell rings three times. It’s a sign of something special. Uncle Bill is here to watch Willie. The text hints that Willie may be a bit dramatic. He wears “checked pants and a big striped shirt.” But one look at the illustrations, and readers know that Uncle Bill and Willie are kindred spirits. In a short-chapter format, three separate stories are told. In the first, there is an unexpected haircut and a French hairdresser hero, Pierre. In the second, the pair sets out to make Icky Stew (which consists of chocolate, tuna salad, liverwurst and much more). But who will eat it? A walk through Brooklyn finds some willing customers. The last adventure includes a subway ride and an electric rock-’n’-roll performance. Each story ends with Willie’s mother coming home, instinctively knowing something must have happened but never quite finding out. Schwartz accurately tunes in to the thrill of small adventures and the best part about babysitters—the new, creative energy in the house. Bright patterns adorn Willie and Uncle Bill but are also smattered across rugs, sofas and wallpapers, adding to the joy.
Emerging readers will appreciate the feel of a chapter book, but this dynamic duo will surely be adored (and envied) by all ages. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 15, 2012
ISBN: 98-0-8234-2203-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Feb. 21, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2012
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Visually accomplished but marred by stereotypical cultural depictions.
Ellis, known for her illustrations for Colin Meloy’s Wildwood series, here riffs on the concept of “home.”
Shifting among homes mundane and speculative, contemporary and not, Ellis begins and ends with views of her own home and a peek into her studio. She highlights palaces and mansions, but she also takes readers to animal homes and a certain famously folkloric shoe (whose iconic Old Woman manages a passel of multiethnic kids absorbed in daring games). One spread showcases “some folks” who “live on the road”; a band unloads its tour bus in front of a theater marquee. Ellis’ compelling ink and gouache paintings, in a palette of blue-grays, sepia and brick red, depict scenes ranging from mythical, underwater Atlantis to a distant moonscape. Another spread, depicting a garden and large building under connected, transparent domes, invites readers to wonder: “Who in the world lives here? / And why?” (Earth is seen as a distant blue marble.) Some of Ellis’ chosen depictions, oddly juxtaposed and stripped of any historical or cultural context due to the stylized design and spare text, become stereotypical. “Some homes are boats. / Some homes are wigwams.” A sailing ship’s crew seems poised to land near a trio of men clad in breechcloths—otherwise unidentified and unremarked upon.
Visually accomplished but marred by stereotypical cultural depictions. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6529-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2014
This humorous, lively dog’s-eye view provides gentle instruction for interacting with pets.
In Weaver’s charming picture book, a dog reassesses his not-so-glowing review of little kids.
“Families are OVERRATED!” as far as the bluish-gray hound named Dog is concerned. While he approves of the adults in the household, the four small children are for the birds. In an attempt to resolve his conflicted feelings, Dog pours his heart out to a therapist scribbling on a notepad. Dog lists his grievances via couplet rhymes: “And many times I’ve found their dirty toys INSIDE MY BOWL! / It’s obvious these little humans have no SELF-CONTROL!” With key words highlighted in colorful and bolded fonts for more emphasis, his voice now has added urgency. Soylu’s lively drawings in muted tones are wondrously effective in animating Dog; his hanging jowls, big eyes, and floppy ears all convey believably beleaguered expressions. Lifelike details enhance the dramatic effect of the children’s boisterous antics. At the end, Weaver provides a list of do’s and don’ts for interacting with pets. Dog lovers can identify the dog breed silhouettes on the endpapers. Kids will get a kick out of Dog’s opinion of humans and perhaps recognize some behaviors to reconsider.
This humorous, lively dog’s-eye view provides gentle instruction for interacting with pets.Pub Date: July 16, 2024
ISBN: 9781736267370
Page Count: 40
Publisher: A Little Offbeat Publishing
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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