After one reading, the party is over—pass.
A cuddly, lime-green monster gets ready for a bash.
“Come to Max’s Monster Party. There’s GOO-LICIOUS food to eat! / It’s creepy-crawly, stinky fun—don’t miss the SCARY treat!” A bright-eyed group of smiling monsters, some with rounded front teeth, one with glasses, and another with an eye patch, comes through the door bearing gifts. Presents are opened, the magician entertains, the bouncy castle “sprays out gunk,” and the monsters take part in the “stinky breath contest.” Then it is time to blow out the “earwax candles” on the “eyeball birthday cake.” Once all the festivities draw to a close, not only do the attendees get to sample the titular dragon jelly—a “scrumptious, sizzling treat”—but each monster also gets a goody bag with a small, red, fire-breathing dragon to take home as a pet. Freedman’s rhyming text matches the rollicking party action, while Hendra and Linnet choose a festive, neon pastel palette set against a black background to make the festivities truly pop. Bouncy though the book is, it’s hard to imagine that the overcrowded field of birthday books really needs another. Without a plot, this benign offering, even with the charming monsters, fails to stand out.
After one reading, the party is over—pass. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: July 7, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-6196-3682-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2015
A successful swap from coconut tree to Christmas tree.
A Christmas edition of the beloved alphabet book.
The story starts off nearly identically to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (1989), written by John Archambault and the late Bill Martin Jr, with the letters A, B, and C deciding to meet in the branches of a tree. This time, they’re attempting to scale a Christmas tree, not a coconut tree, and the letters are strung together like garland. A, B, and C are joined by the other letters, and of course they all “slip, slop, topple, plop!” right down the tree. At the bottom, they discover an assortment of gifts, all in a variety of shapes. As a team, the letters and presents organize themselves to get back up on the Christmas tree and get a star to the top. Holiday iterations of favorite tales often fall flat, but this take succeeds. The gifts are an easy way to reinforce another preschool concept—shapes—and the text uses just enough of the original to be familiar. The rhyming works, sticking to the cadence of the source material. The illustrations pay homage to the late Lois Ehlert’s, featuring the same bold block letters, though they lack some of the whimsy and personality of the original. Otherwise, everything is similarly brightly colored and simply drawn. Those familiar with the classic will be drawn to this one, but newcomers can enjoy it on its own.
A successful swap from coconut tree to Christmas tree. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781665954761
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
A child-friendly tale packed with all things winter.
A look at hallmarks and celebrations of the coldest season.
Winter’s here, and there are icicles, snow gear, sledding, and snowball fights, of course. Inside, kids make decorations, snuggle under warm blankets, and sip hot chocolate. We also see kids celebrating a variety of holidays. Children play dreidel and enjoy latkes while a menorah sits in the window. Some hang ornaments on a Christmas tree; others observe Kwanzaa. Youngsters also ring in the new year with “fizzy drinks to clink.” Several kids perform a dragon dance on Chinese New Year, and in February, the little ones exchange valentines at school. The scope and vocabulary make this a perfect book to share with preschoolers both in a classroom setting and at home, and the rhyming gives it a read-aloud-friendly cadence. The illustrations perfectly encapsulate the blustery cold of winter as well as the comfort of hunkering down inside, thanks to wisps of wind across windowpanes and cozy, blanketed kids. All the scenes are fully imagined and well drawn, with plenty to observe, from squirrels peeking in at the kids making crafts and a bird’s-eye view of the town where a menorah sits in a house and a car sports decorative antlers. The quality rhymes and meaningful illustrations make this a worthy selection. The kids depicted are diverse in terms of race and ability.
A child-friendly tale packed with all things winter. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9780316570138
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
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