This closely follows an earlier adventure, Piglet Bo Can Do Anything (2015), which may explain the abruptness of both...
In this Belgian import, a porcine hero faces his fears and (sort of) triumphs over them.
Piglet Bo, a simply drawn, anthropomorphic pig, proudly proclaims that he “is not scared” of various venues, animals, and activities. From a mouse (which is fortuitously routed by a passing cat) through an empty room, a deep hole, a stand of stinging nettles, and a roller coaster, Piglet Bo finds ways to avoid entirely or, at the least, minimize each potentially frightening experience. The first-person, stream-of-consciousness text uses repetition to convey the (not so) hidden truth that he is, indeed, quite afraid after all. While this is no doubt a familiar feeling for many small children (and some adults), the overlong and occasionally awkward narration is more likely to distance listeners than to draw them in. The mixed-media illustrations may also be somewhat off-putting, as Piglet Bo appears to be transparent at times (the colors of the setting showing through his outline, in whole or in part), and varying depictions of a wild dog or wolf lurk menacingly in many of the compositions.
This closely follows an earlier adventure, Piglet Bo Can Do Anything (2015), which may explain the abruptness of both opening and closing; fans of his first outing may enjoy seeing him again so soon, but those meeting him for the first time may be unimpressed. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Nov. 3, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-63450-182-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2015
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
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
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)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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