Kiss this one off.
Inspired by an old story, a frog goes out in search of a princess who will kiss him and turn him into a prince in this Dutch and Belgian import.
Not all of the princesses who appear in Lee’s pale, dainty scenes are White, but the story’s underlying moral is as conventional as ever. Theo’s personal inquiries turn up no candidates, but when he distributes posters with a time and place to gather, a parade of smiling, neatly turned-out young girls sporting crowns queue up for smooches. Alas, no transformation occurs—until Sofia, a beautiful green straggler in plainer dress, hops up and, despite her announcement that that she’s no princess, gives him a kiss that makes him feel like a real prince. Off the two frogs caper amid a cloud of butterflies, certain of living “happily ever after.” The tiresome message that young readers may be assured of the same if only they will stick to their own kind and class really doesn’t need another iteration—particularly when it features unattached girls literally lining up to be tested and then instantly disappearing from view when found wanting. Adam Rex and Scott Campbell’s XO, Ox (2017) or Leslie Braunstein and Joshua S. Brunet’s I’m in Love With a Big Blue Frog (2013), for instance, offer less parochial views of romance, and to give princesses a better showing, Dolores Brown’s The Truly Brave Princesses, illustrated by Sonja Wimmer (2018), is just a beginning. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.2-by-19.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 75% of actual size.)
Kiss this one off. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: June 8, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-60537-640-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clavis
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A lesson that never grows old, enacted with verve by two favorite friends
Gerald the elephant learns a truth familiar to every preschooler—heck, every human: “Waiting is not easy!”
When Piggie cartwheels up to Gerald announcing that she has a surprise for him, Gerald is less than pleased to learn that the “surprise is a surprise.” Gerald pumps Piggie for information (it’s big, it’s pretty, and they can share it), but Piggie holds fast on this basic principle: Gerald will have to wait. Gerald lets out an almighty “GROAN!” Variations on this basic exchange occur throughout the day; Gerald pleads, Piggie insists they must wait; Gerald groans. As the day turns to twilight (signaled by the backgrounds that darken from mauve to gray to charcoal), Gerald gets grumpy. “WE HAVE WASTED THE WHOLE DAY!…And for WHAT!?” Piggie then gestures up to the Milky Way, which an awed Gerald acknowledges “was worth the wait.” Willems relies even more than usual on the slightest of changes in posture, layout and typography, as two waiting figures can’t help but be pretty static. At one point, Piggie assumes the lotus position, infuriating Gerald. Most amusingly, Gerald’s elephantine groans assume weighty physicality in spread-filling speech bubbles that knock Piggie to the ground. And the spectacular, photo-collaged images of the Milky Way that dwarf the two friends makes it clear that it was indeed worth the wait.
A lesson that never grows old, enacted with verve by two favorite friends . (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4231-9957-1
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Cuándo quieras un perro feliz, look no further.
A young Latine boy finally gets to rescue the dog of his dreams, but training can be a challenge in two languages.
Like many children, José has been dreaming of having a pet of his own, specifically un perro, a dog. Like any good owner, José promptly begins training his new canine companion but soon realizes his rescue mutt, Feliz, knows only words in English. This is a problem because in José’s home everyone speaks both Spanish and English. José and Feliz must rise to the challenge; fortunately, treats and snuggles are great motivators. The narrative uses Spanish words and phrases throughout (“perros blancos,” “¡Yo quiero este!” “¡Sientate!”), usually with English context clues for understanding. This is complex vocabulary for an early reader, and the shifting in phonics from English to Spanish will be challenging for true beginners; the book is best suited for intermediate to advanced readers in dual-language classrooms or homes. Much like Feliz, however, it is sure to find a loving (and bilingual) home. Cheerful illustrations complement the text, helping readers make sense of the narrative. While José and his mother are darker-skinned, his father and sister are lighter-skinned. (This review has been updated for accuracy.)
Cuándo quieras un perro feliz, look no further. (glossary of Spanish-English words) (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-52116-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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