Wooden dialogue weighs down this woodsy graphic tale of two single-parent families getting together. Routed out of their den by hunters, Mrs. Fox and her daughter, Ginger, wangle an invitation to stay the night with Mr. Badger and his kits, Grub, Bristle and the baby. The grown-ups click immediately; the young folk—particularly hostile, unsocialized only-child Ginger—start off, at least, at war. Arranged in squared-off graphic panels, several to a page, Tharlet’s uncluttered, fluidly brushed watercolor scenes are easy to follow as the young folk squabble about games and other issues but eventually come together over plans for a big moving-in party. Unfortunately the conversation as translated by Burrell too often runs to blocky lines—“We cannot return to our burrow. It is all destroyed”—and there is little suspense about the eventual outcome, giving this purposeful but promising series an uneven start. Still, it’s hard not to warm up to characters named Bristle and Grub; here’s hoping things smooth out in future entries. (Graphic animal fantasy. 6-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7613-5631-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Graphic Universe
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2010
The dream phantasms of a high-spirited narrator intersect, even crowd, reality, but the stream-of-consciousness text makes for a rambling, radically personal tale. Playful images of a stuffed lion, trampoline, purple shoes, and a cat named Pine-Cone take hold in a young girl’s imagination, despite her “old” mother who makes her go to bed when she’d rather “stay up early” and a big sister with a cranky disposition. At home, she likes counting flea bites and pretending to be a worm, but is afraid of the dark and going to Grade One. The second half of the book takes off in a separate first-day-of school direction. Wild dreams precede the big day, which includes bullies on the playground and instant friend Chelsea. The childlike articulations of the text are endearing, but not quite of universal interest, and don’t add up to a compelling story; children may more readily warm to Gay’s illustrations, which include a dreamlike flying cat, a menacing hot dog, and an uproarious stuffed toy looming over everyday domestic scenes. (Picture book. 4-7)
Pub Date: Feb. 15, 1999
ISBN: 1-55143-107-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1999
This sheep-in-everyboy’s-clothing returns for a third set of edifying neighborhood encounters: with archrival Mandy Dinkus in a closet (it’s complicated); manners coach Ms. Bottoms; a roller coaster; and the really old, but surprisingly un-scary Stagglemyers. As before, Johnny emerges from each meeting a little wiser—discovering, for instance, that he prefers the Duckie-Go-Round to the roller coaster, and later actually working with Mandy to head off a possible romantic connection between their respective single parents. Separated by recipes—of sorts: “Mutton soup is 100% melted vanilla ice cream with a cherry on top”—Proimos tells each tale in minimally detailed, brightly colored cartoon panels, with dialogue floating in balloons. Think Ricky Ricotta, without the violence. (Easy reader. 6-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-15-216772-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2004
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