A darling ode to friendship.
“Tao and George are best friends.”
In this sweet tale translated from French, a little dog named George meets and befriends a scruffy kitten named Tao. The two of them “look at each other and wag their tails,” and soon they’re playing and roughhousing all day long. Tao is thrilled when George chases him right up the curtain in the living room…until Tao falls. The kitten is scooped up and carried away by a mostly obscured human, and George is left wondering where his friend has gone. Tao isn’t in any of his usual spots…or any unusual ones for that matter. George waits at the door all day long until he is at last happily reunited with his companion, who’s back from a trip to the vet. Veteran children’s author/illustrator Dubois’ straightforward prose is accompanied by loose, expressive watercolor-and-pencil illustrations on simple impressionistic backgrounds. George is brown and very tiny, with adorable floppy ears and exaggerated proportions; Tao has orange and brown stripes and is even tinier, though no less cute. While there may not be a sweeping narrative, the illustrations of George searching and waiting for his best friend will surely tug at any reader’s heartstrings. Tao’s return and George’s jubilation will please little ones; this cozy tale is ideal bedtime fare. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A darling ode to friendship. (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781776575251
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Gecko Press
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2023
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
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