A cheerful tale certain to ensnare readers.
A bayside town faces off with a thieving creature of the depths.
“I heard the monster nabbed a fishing net last night!” “I heard it swims underwater as fast as a TORPEDO!” “I heard its stinky breath can turn your skin GREEN!” Rumors circulate about an elusive nuisance in Lighthouse Bay. But Gilly, a light-skinned, water-loving child who totes her beloved fish, Finnegan, everywhere (in his bowl), won’t let the supposed monster stop her from swimming. That is, until the monster snatches one of her flippers. Gilly enlists a group of other Lighthouse Bay residents, who are diverse in skin tone but unified in their disgust for the alleged monster who has been stealing everything from sweaters to pails of prawns. They craft a rudimentary trap, and the monster is ensnared—but not in Gilly’s contraption. Worried that the creature, tangled in a net in the bay, might drown, Gilly softens and helps it, discovering it’s not a monster at all but a clingy walrus in need of a pal and eventually befriending it. The watercolor-and-ink illustrations are friendly and matter-of-fact, bringing to life an adventure that’s ultimately an unexpected story of friendship. The quick pacing makes for a fantastic read-aloud, rounded out by fun facts about walruses and relevant websites. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A cheerful tale certain to ensnare readers. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 18, 2023
ISBN: 9781665907552
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2023
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together.
A clueless duckling tries to make a new friend.
He is confused by this peculiar-looking duck, who has a long tail, doesn’t waddle and likes to be alone. No matter how explicitly the creature denies he is a duck and announces that he is a cat, the duckling refuses to acknowledge the facts. When this creature expresses complete lack of interest in playing puddle stomp, the little ducking goes off and plays on his own. But the cat is not without remorse for rejecting an offered friendship. Of course it all ends happily, with the two new friends enjoying each other’s company. Bramsen employs brief sentences and the simplest of rhymes to tell this slight tale. The two heroes are meticulously drawn with endearing, expressive faces and body language, and their feathers and fur appear textured and touchable. Even the detailed tree bark and grass seem three-dimensional. There are single- and double-page spreads, panels surrounded by white space and circular and oval frames, all in a variety of eye-pleasing juxtapositions. While the initial appeal is solidly visual, young readers will get the gentle message that friendship is not something to take for granted but is to be embraced with open arms—or paws and webbed feet.
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-375-86990-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 13, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2012
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