Most likely to be appreciated by Fuddles’ existing fans, this serviceable story offers another look at the age-old conflict...
A cossetted house cat copes with the addition of a rambunctious puppy to his previously placid household.
Fuddles hasn’t changed much since his previous appearances (A Very Fuddles Christmas, 2013, etc.). Still a (big) fan of eating, sleeping, and luxurious living, he’s horrified when his family adopts a dog. The licking, slobbering, and chasing are bad enough, but purloining Fuddles’ food is the last straw. Despite a decisive falling-out, however, Puddles (the aptly named puppy whose indoor accident precedes the first full image of him) still charges to the rescue when Fuddles accidentally encounters the scary dog next door. The plot is predictable, but Vischer energizes the tale with humorous touches in his digitally created cartoon-style artwork. Anthropomorphic antics and exaggerated expressions abound, as do unlikely situations, all set in a sunny, suburban world of green lawns and cozy interiors. The depiction of Fuddles lounging in a bubble bath, the black-and-white montage reviewing his previous (pampered) lives, and the numerous vignettes of Puddles engaged in typical canine behavior also emphasize the pets’ contrasting personalities and preferences. Changes in font size, meanwhile, enliven the straightforward text by creating momentum and revealing emotions.
Most likely to be appreciated by Fuddles’ existing fans, this serviceable story offers another look at the age-old conflict between cats and dogs—and at their traditionally accepted qualities (like laziness and loyalty) as well. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-3839-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Aladdin
Review Posted Online: June 27, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2016
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
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Hee haw.
The print version of a knee-slapping cumulative ditty.
In the song, Smith meets a donkey on the road. It is three-legged, and so a “wonky donkey” that, on further examination, has but one eye and so is a “winky wonky donkey” with a taste for country music and therefore a “honky-tonky winky wonky donkey,” and so on to a final characterization as a “spunky hanky-panky cranky stinky-dinky lanky honky-tonky winky wonky donkey.” A free musical recording (of this version, anyway—the author’s website hints at an adults-only version of the song) is available from the publisher and elsewhere online. Even though the book has no included soundtrack, the sly, high-spirited, eye patch–sporting donkey that grins, winks, farts, and clumps its way through the song on a prosthetic metal hoof in Cowley’s informal watercolors supplies comical visual flourishes for the silly wordplay. Look for ready guffaws from young audiences, whether read or sung, though those attuned to disability stereotypes may find themselves wincing instead or as well.
Hee haw. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: May 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-545-26124-1
Page Count: 26
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Dec. 28, 2018
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