Uninspired writing rescued by extraordinary art.
In film star Pine’s debut picture book, a dog and a squirrel overcome mutual distrust and forge a friendship.
Before Digz began living with kind, light-skinned Ms. Pincher on Appletree Lane, he eked out a lonely existence at the dog pound. Now he considers himself king of the yard. Zurl the squirrel used to have an inferiority complex because her tail was shorter than her peers’. After her father’s pep talk, she felt better—and now considers herself queen of the yard. When she trips over Digz’s nose one day, the two start trading insults: Digz is a “ding-a-ling dope” and a “dummy”; Zurl is a “furry turd.” When a menacing Digz corners Zurl, she becomes frightened, but Digz summons a sense of empathy. Spoiler alert: “They were different, of course, but just the same in their hearts, / and in friendship these two were never apart.” Rhymes, near rhymes, and rather awkward rhythms tell a tale whose simple plot is stretched by delving into the psychological backgrounds of the titular characters. The text is wordy and sometimes trite. But the masterful art and layout will keep readers engaged. Muted colors and gentle lines create a comforting outdoor space, while the dog pound is appropriately stark and dark. Both protagonists have semi-realistic bodies, as well as facial and bodily expressions that display an amazing range of emotions. Every character, from Zurl’s siblings to a tiny snail, is endearing.
Uninspired writing rescued by extraordinary art. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2024
ISBN: 9780593528228
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
Still, this young boy’s imagination is a powerful force for helping him deal with life, something that should be true for...
Oliver, of first-day-of-school alligator fame, is back, imagining adventures and still struggling to find balance between introversion and extroversion.
“When Oliver found his egg…” on the playground, mint-green backgrounds signifying Oliver’s flight into fancy slowly grow larger until they take up entire spreads; Oliver’s creature, white and dinosaurlike with orange polka dots, grows larger with them. Their adventures include sharing treats, sailing the seas and going into outer space. A classmate’s yell brings him back to reality, where readers see him sitting on top of a rock. Even considering Schmid’s scribbly style, readers can almost see the wheels turning in his head as he ponders the girl and whether or not to give up his solitary play. “But when Oliver found his rock… // Oliver imagined many adventures // with all his friends!” This last is on a double gatefold that opens to show the children enjoying the creature’s slippery curves. A final wordless spread depicts all the children sitting on rocks, expressions gleeful, wondering, waiting, hopeful. The illustrations, done in pastel pencil and digital color, again make masterful use of white space and page turns, although this tale is not nearly as funny or tongue-in-cheek as Oliver and His Alligator (2013), nor is its message as clear and immediately accessible to children.
Still, this young boy’s imagination is a powerful force for helping him deal with life, something that should be true for all children but sadly isn’t. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: July 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4231-7573-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2014
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