Thompson and Taylor offer a second story in their charming series revisiting the beloved Beatrix Potter rabbit characters, following The Further Adventures of Peter Rabbit (2012).
This time the plot focuses on the main dish for Mr. and Mrs. McGregor’s Christmas dinner: not rabbit pie this time but roast turkey. Peter Rabbit and his cousin Benjamin Bunny are friends with William the turkey, “a puffed-up person, full of his own importance.” He struts about the farmyard oblivious to upcoming holiday dinner plans, thinking he will be a guest rather than the entree at the McGregors’ table. Peter and Benjamin try various schemes to hide William from Mr. McGregor and his ominous cleaver, eventually camouflaging their friend on Mrs. McGregor’s hat stand among other feathered bonnets. Thompson’s engaging text is filled with droll humor and old-fashioned but clever turns of phrase that echo Potter’s literary style. Similarly, Taylor’s sweetly comical watercolor illustrations pay homage to the original Peter Rabbit characters without being exact copies, and the large trim differentiates this new series from the tiny classic volumes. Sensitive children might think differently about eating turkey after reading of William’s narrow escape, and purists may wince at recycling Peter and pals, but this amusing story of the conceited turkey and his helpful rabbit friends is a tale well-told. (author’s note, CD of author reading story) (Picture book. 4-7)
Pub Date: Oct. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-7232-7694-4
Page Count: 72
Publisher: Warne
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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