Trippy ant conservation from Spain.
Will the inhabitants of an anthill constantly under attack by two children find a way to stop the violence?
This is one weird book, but it’s not without merit. The art and text complement each other perfectly, creating a world that evokes Latin American magical realism, the visual distinctiveness of Lane Smith’s art, and the worldbuilding of the movie Antz. At the outset, the cartoon ant pictured on the cover—with mustache, eyebrows, and gold star on his blue uniform—is shown in “the deepest part of the anthill,” which includes ant-proportioned decor such as ceramic urns and a potted plant. Gen. Ant has been performing the task of food storage but interrupts himself when he learns of an imminent attack on the anthill. He sends an order to soldier ants by “sending a special aroma signal that wafted through the many tunnels and caves in the colony.” (Throughout the book, facts about ants are thus interspersed with tongue-in-cheek descriptions.) White-presenting siblings Chloe and Jack—whose large, round, white eyeballs have turquoise irises plopped in the middle like the yolks of fried eggs—make a game of poking anthills and squishing ants. Gen. Ant, a captain, and a flying ant devise a plan to stop the children. Via the flying ant’s subliminal invasion of Jack’s dream, the text becomes suddenly didactic, with an ending so abrupt readers may think an army of ants has removed the final pages. Still, it’s great fun, and its clearly stated message is inarguable.
Trippy ant conservation from Spain. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Nov. 12, 2019
ISBN: 978-84-16733-48-4
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Cuento de Luz
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2019
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A disappointing follow-up.
Inventor Izzy Gizmo is back in this sequel to her eponymous debut (2017).
While busily inventing one day, Izzy receives an invitation from the Genius Guild to their annual convention. Though Izzy’s “inventions…don’t always work,” Grandpa (apparently her sole caregiver) encourages her to go. The next day they undertake a long journey “over fields, hills, and waves” and “mile after mile” to isolated Technoff Isle. There, Izzy finds she must compete against four other kids to create the most impressive machine. The colorful, detail-rich illustrations chronicle how poor Izzy is thwarted at every turn by Abi von Lavish, a Veruca Salt–esque character who takes all the supplies for herself. But when Abi abandons her project, Izzy salvages the pieces and decides to take Grandpa’s advice to create a machine that “can really be put to good use.” A frustrated Izzy’s impatience with a friend almost foils her chance at the prize, but all’s well that ends well. There’s much to like: Brown-skinned inventor girl Izzy is an appealing character, it’s great to see a nurturing brown-skinned male caregiver, the idea of an “Invention Convention” is fun, and a sustainable-energy invention is laudable. However, these elements don’t make up for rhymes that often feel forced and a lackluster story.
A disappointing follow-up. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68263-164-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2020
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