A thoughtful pandemic story from the perspective of a relatable protagonist.
A dog adapts to the Covid-19 landscape in this picture book.
At the start of the pandemic, a small white-and-cream dog named Jake is frightened: “Mom and Dad were using different words than I’d ever heard before, like virus and lockdown.” The canine notices the streets are quiet and his favorite places, like the dog park, are closed. Although Jake attends canine school online, he misses seeing his pals in person. He feels comforted when Mom “explained…what was happening…and wanted me to know that it was okay to be scared.” Jake and his family enjoy at-home activities like charades and baking. He finds purpose in helping others, such as sharing his homegrown veggies because “simple acts of kindness can really make someone’s day.” After Mom tells Jake about the Covid-19 vaccine, the dog feels optimistic that “life would be back to normal.” Jake’s experiences during the pandemic will be familiar to many young readers. Hardy portrays the pooch’s struggles with anxiety and loneliness in a considerate, heartfelt manner. Wally_LL’s adorable, vivid illustrations present engaging, sometimes silly scenes, including Jake practicing yoga. The spreads feature fun details like Jake’s squirrel friend Stuart. Some depictions are anthropomorphic (Jake mows the lawn). Others portray the main character as a pet, such as being walked on a leash. Jake’s human parents, shown from the neck down, are biracial, and his neighbor uses a wheelchair. People in background scenes are diverse.
A thoughtful pandemic story from the perspective of a relatable protagonist.Pub Date: May 12, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-73-632350-2
Page Count: 34
Publisher: Christine Hardy DBA Jake's World
Review Posted Online: Sept. 15, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This bunny escapes all the traps but fails to find a logical plot or an emotional connection with readers.
The bestselling series (How to Catch an Elf, 2016, etc.) about capturing mythical creatures continues with a story about various ways to catch the Easter Bunny as it makes its annual deliveries.
The bunny narrates its own story in rhyming text, beginning with an introduction at its office in a manufacturing facility that creates Easter eggs and candy. The rabbit then abruptly takes off on its delivery route with a tiny basket of eggs strapped to its back, immediately encountering a trap with carrots and a box propped up with a stick. The narrative focuses on how the Easter Bunny avoids increasingly complex traps set up to catch him with no explanation as to who has set the traps or why. These traps include an underground tunnel, a fluorescent dance floor with a hidden pit of carrots, a robot bunny, pirates on an island, and a cannon that shoots candy fish, as well as some sort of locked, hazardous site with radiation danger. Readers of previous books in the series will understand the premise, but others will be confused by the rabbit’s frenetic escapades. Cartoon-style illustrations have a 1960s vibe, with a slightly scary, bow-tied bunny with chartreuse eyes and a glowing palette of neon shades that shout for attention.
This bunny escapes all the traps but fails to find a logical plot or an emotional connection with readers. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4926-3817-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Jan. 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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