A tender Passover tale that will be especially meaningful for families who’ve lost cherished members.
A beloved relative’s presence is still felt.
The young narrator keenly misses Poppy—Grandpa—at Passover. The little one looks for him as the family gathers for the seder. Some things seem the same as everyone assembles for the holiday: “the same chasing cousins, the same squishy seats, the same goofy giggles.” But “it’s not Passover without Poppy,” the protagonist forlornly tells Mama. Mama reassures the child that Poppy is still here. So do Aunty and the child’s brother as the child repeatedly asks, “Where is Poppy?” The child recalls wonderful memories: Poppy’s secret for his spicy matzah ball soup (slipping a chili pepper into the broth), his “wide, wide, wide” smile, and how he presided over the seders. As the family members read from the Haggadah, sing joyous songs, and revel in the warm delight of celebrating as a family, the child realizes that Poppy is here in spirit and always will be. Though it’s never explicitly stated, readers are to assume Poppy has passed away. This is a delightful, though poignant, Passover read that reminds children that this festive spring holiday is about family unity and keeping traditions and memories alive. Charming and delicate pencil, gouache, and charcoal illustrations, finished digitally, rely on a limited palette; the narrator presents Asian, and the family is racially diverse. (This review was updated for factual accuracy.)
A tender Passover tale that will be especially meaningful for families who’ve lost cherished members. (author’s note, glossary) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Feb. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9781534489196
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Dec. 16, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The dynamic interaction between the characters invites readers to take risks, push boundaries, and have a little unscripted...
Reinvention is the name of the game for two blobs of clay.
A blue-eyed gray blob and a brown-eyed brown blob sit side by side, unsure as to what’s going to happen next. The gray anticipates an adventure, while the brown appears apprehensive. A pair of hands descends, and soon, amid a flurry of squishing and prodding and poking and sculpting, a handsome gray wolf and a stately brown owl emerge. The hands disappear, leaving the friends to their own devices. The owl is pleased, but the wolf convinces it that the best is yet to come. An ear pulled here and an extra eye placed there, and before you can shake a carving stick, a spurt of frenetic self-exploration—expressed as a tangled black scribble—reveals a succession of smug hybrid beasts. After all, the opportunity to become a “pig-e-phant” doesn’t come around every day. But the sound of approaching footsteps panics the pair of Picassos. How are they going to “fix [them]selves” on time? Soon a hippopotamus and peacock are staring bug-eyed at a returning pair of astonished hands. The creative naiveté of the “clay mates” is perfectly captured by Petty’s feisty, spot-on dialogue: “This was your idea…and it was a BAD one.” Eldridge’s endearing sculpted images are photographed against the stark white background of an artist’s work table to great effect.
The dynamic interaction between the characters invites readers to take risks, push boundaries, and have a little unscripted fun of their own . (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: June 20, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-316-30311-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2017
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