A relatable tale that will bolster the spirits of readers dreading their own field trips.
Everything goes wrong on the Wildwood Elementary field trip.
This picture book features one not-so-wild kid and a school bus full of some pretty wild creatures: George the gorilla, Charlie the crocodile, and Mr. Grizzly, a bear, as the teacher. Mr. Grizzly takes the class into the woods, where the narrator, a light-skinned, bespectacled child, winds up covered in poison ivy, getting pooped on by a bird, and running from a mountain lion. In the end, the anti-nature kiddo manages to find some joy in the great outdoors and delightfully quips, “S’mores are my favorite part of the food chain.” Scharnhorst’s story—a follow-up to My School Stinks! (2021)—is effectively told through diary entries, which gives readers a sense of the narrator’s gripes and inner monologue. Ultimately finding the silver lining in the situation is a classic moral for a good reason. Patton’s illustrations include fine line detail, like Patricia the porcupine’s individual quills, the snail’s tiny tie, and the intricacies of the map. The narrator’s expressions and body language—conveying everything from misery to pride—complement the text. The look of the notebook paper backing the text combined with the illustrations sometimes makes for pages that appear busy. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A relatable tale that will bolster the spirits of readers dreading their own field trips. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 23, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-40333-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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