A fun read-aloud for the kindergarten set.
In his latest picture book, Bergmann (The Curse of the Baskervilles, 2015, etc.) challenges readers to guess the surprise that frightens a brave cat on a stormy night.
A fierce thunderstorm wakes Sharkie the cat in the middle of what turns out to be “the most terrifying night of my life.” With all the hubbub, “no sense in trying to go back to sleep now,” he thinks. Sharkie stumbles through a dark house lit only in flashes by the lightning, making his way to his litter box on the first floor. Despite the noise of the storm, the burned-out light, and the icy cold floor, he insists he’s not scared, not until he feels something grabbing him with its claws. Sharkie races back to his owner’s bedroom, determined not to let the thing get him. He’s even ready to sacrifice his owner to the monster—“maybe it will take him instead!” Bergmann’s story demands to be read aloud, with plenty of sound effects highlighted in bold: the ka-boom of the thunder, the rat-a-tat-tat of rain hitting the window, even the buzzzzz of the fluorescent light. Soriano’s full-color art complements the text, infusing the rooms Sharkie passes through with spooky, cartoonish atmosphere. Kids will giggle at the creepy photos decorating the hallway and the poor, bedraggled dog shut outside in the storm, pawing at the door to come in. (They may feel sorry for him, too, although Sharkie certainly doesn’t.) Sketches of rain and lightning against a teal background enliven even the pages without illustrations. As for whatever is chasing Sharkie, that’s left out of the picture until the very end, giving kids and grown-up readers alike the chance to guess what it could possibly be. (It’s quite a surprise.) The interactive element makes the book even more fun to read, and while the visual punch line at the end may mildly gross out some parents, it will likely leave young readers giggling.
A fun read-aloud for the kindergarten set.Pub Date: May 6, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-5005-9123-6
Page Count: 46
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2015
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The greeting-card art and jokey rhymes work for the baby-shower market but not for the youngest readers.
Animal parents declare their love for their offspring through rhymed puns and sentimental art.
The title sets the scene for what’s to come: The owl asks the owlet as they fly together, “WHOO loves you?”; the kangaroo and joey make each other “very HOPPY”; and the lioness and cub are a “PURRRFECT pair.” Most of the puns are both unimaginative and groanworthy, and they are likely to go over the heads of toddlers, who are not know for their wordplay abilities. The text is set in abcb quatrains split over two double-page spreads. On each spread, one couplet appears on the verso within a lightly decorated border on pastel pages. On the recto, a full-bleed portrait of the animal and baby appears in softly colored and cozy images. Hearts are prominent on every page, floating between the parent and baby as if it is necessary to show the love between each pair. Although these critters are depicted in mistily conceived natural habitats and are unclothed, they are human stand-ins through and through.
The greeting-card art and jokey rhymes work for the baby-shower market but not for the youngest readers. (Board book. 6 mos-2)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-7282-1374-3
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: June 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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