by Cyndi Marko ; illustrated by Cyndi Marko ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 18, 2023
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
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by Terry Border ; illustrated by Terry Border ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 29, 2014
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school...
The familiar theme of the challenges facing a new kid in town is given an original treatment by photographer Border in this book of photos of three-dimensional objects in a simple modeled landscape.
Peanut Butter is represented by a slice of white bread spread with the popular condiment. The other characters in the story—a hamburger with a pair of hot dogs in tow, a bowl of alphabet soup, a meatball jumping a rope of spaghetti, a carton of French fries and a pink cupcake—are represented by skillfully crafted models of these foods, anthropomorphized using simple wire construction. Rejected by each character in turn in his search for playmates, Peanut Butter discovers in the end that Jelly is his true match (not Cupcake, as the title suggests), perhaps because she is the only one who looks like him, being a slice of white bread spread with jelly. The friendly foods end up happily playing soccer together. Some parents may have trouble with the unabashedly happy depiction of carbs and American junk food (no carrots or celery sticks in this landscape), and others may find themselves troubled by the implication that friendship across difference is impossible.
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school experiences. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: July 29, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-399-16773-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2014
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by Marilyn Sadler ; illustrated by Stephanie Laberis ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 13, 2024
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
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