Unique, playful, provocative.
Finn awakens at night with “something rustling around inside their head.”
While Finn uses they/them pronouns, other children in the text are assigned gender-specific pronouns; the casual, intentional use of the nonbinary is welcome validation for many readers. But this concept book is not about gender—it is an exploration of how one person’s seminal idea can blossom large and beautiful, especially when friends support and/or collaborate. The stylized line-and-color illustrations feature children of varied racial presentations, their expressive faces rendered with simple lines of ink. Finn, who has pale skin and black hair, shares a bedroom with similarly complexioned brother Oscar, sleepy-faced as Finn excitedly reveals their idea, which “slid to the top of their tongue and begged to be shared.” The accessible text uses a captivating combination of words synonymous with thinking and imagery that makes an idea appear tangible. As Finn trots happily to school and begins discussing their idea with other students, the art shows its expansion with bright, sunny colors, swirling patterns, and shapes suggesting positive feelings. Frowning, freckle-faced Otis, a White boy, insists Finn’s idea is weird and that only his gray, rocklike idea is valid. Finn rallies after a moment of self-doubt and then invites all the children to contribute. Will Otis come around? What is this exciting, burgeoning idea? On the final page, vibrant, colorful artwork eases the tension introduced by the text’s open-endedness. Immediate discussion is demanded.
Unique, playful, provocative. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-77147-294-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily.
A group of young “dinosauruses” go out into the world on their own.
A fuchsia little Hugasaurus and her Pappysaur (both of whom resemble Triceratops) have never been apart before, but Hugasaurus happily heads off with lunchbox in hand and “wonder in her heart” to make new friends. The story has a first-day-of-school feeling, but Hugasaurus doesn’t end up in a formal school environment; rather, she finds herself on a playground with other little prehistoric creatures, though no teacher or adult seems to be around. At first, the new friends laugh and play. But Hugasaurus’ pals begin to squabble, and play comes to a halt. As she wonders what to do, a fuzzy platypus playmate asks some wise questions (“What…would your Pappy say to do? / What makes YOU feel better?”), and Hugasaurus decides to give everyone a hug—though she remembers to ask permission first. Slowly, good humor is restored and play begins anew with promises to be slow to anger and, in general, to help create a kinder world. Short rhyming verses occasionally use near rhyme but also include fun pairs like ripples and double-triples. Featuring cozy illustrations of brightly colored creatures, the tale sends a strong message about appropriate and inappropriate ways to resolve conflict, the final pages restating the lesson plainly in a refrain that could become a classroom motto. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-338-82869-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
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