AT THE END OF HOLYROOD LANE

Name: AT THE END OF HOLYROOD LANE
Author: Dimity Powell
ISBN: 978-1-925335-76-7

by Dimity Powell ; illustrated by Nicky Johnston ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 2018

Expressive illustrations and text rich with poetic vocabulary share a sensitive story with a message about asking for help...

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A young girl conquers her fear of storms and learns to ask for help.

At her home beneath the beech trees at the end of Holyrood Lane, young Flick loves to frolic, cavort, and play in the sunshine. She dreads the unpredictable arrival of storms that hurt her ears, ruin her fun, and make her feel small. During the storms, she hides on her own from the thunder. One day, while chasing a rainbow, Flick finds herself caught amid the dark clouds, winds, and rain with no time to hide. Vivid language and personification heighten the intensity of the storms, giving them force and raging emotions. When storms arrive, they “bully the curtains,” “smother sunshine,” “ransack fun,” and “fume.” The watercolor illustrations that accompany the text fill the pages, leaving no space without a purpose. Swirling clouds in deep grays and blues press in on Flick, even when she hides inside under the laundry basket or her bed, capturing the energy of her frightened imagination. Although the story focuses on the theme of overcoming fears, the text never invalidates Flick’s concerns. In order to face what frightens her, Flick learns that she can seek help when she feels overwhelmed. Flick, who presents white, appears alone throughout save one illustration in which she shares an umbrella with a mostly hidden companion, a device that focuses readers’ attention on her agency and choice.

Expressive illustrations and text rich with poetic vocabulary share a sensitive story with a message about asking for help when a situation feels scary. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-925335-76-7

Page Count: 32

Publisher: EK Books

Review Posted Online: Sept. 16, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2018

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: June 21, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
ON THE FIRST DAY OF FIRST GRADE
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Sarah Jennings

- BOOK REVIEW
FIVE LITTLE BUNNIES
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

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IT'S NOT EASY BEING A GHOST

From the It's Not Easy Being series

by Marilyn Sadler ; illustrated by Stephanie Laberis ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 13, 2024

Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.

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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)