A sweet and funny picture book about the power of doing good deeds.
Although Arnold comes from a family of superheroes, he still hasn’t found his superpower.
Because he isn’t incredibly strong or able to fly or even able to bounce absurdly high, Arnold contributes to the family business by answering the phones. Thanks to his excellent handwriting and good manners, he excels at his job, but he never really thinks of it—or himself—as special until the day he gets a distress call from City Park. Arnold sounds the alarm, but none of his superhero relatives answer. Determined to help the unknown client, Arnold decides to handle the issue himself. His mission gets off to a rocky start when he falls in a puddle when alighting from the public bus that takes him to the park, and then he realizes he doesn’t know whom he’s there to help. However, he soon finds plenty of people to help and problems that he can solve with just a resourceful mind and a good heart. In fact, he is so successful that he ends up on the evening news. This humorous and endearing book appropriately uses comic-book–style illustrations to tell a story that is both accessible and sincere. Arnold’s journey from self-doubt to confidence is inspiring without ever being preachy, and his quick, creative solutions to everyday problems are delightfully surprising. Arnold presents White; both his family and his community are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9.4-by-18.8-inch double-page spreads viewed at 39% of actual size.)
A sweet and funny picture book about the power of doing good deeds. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5253-0309-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
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
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together.
A clueless duckling tries to make a new friend.
He is confused by this peculiar-looking duck, who has a long tail, doesn’t waddle and likes to be alone. No matter how explicitly the creature denies he is a duck and announces that he is a cat, the duckling refuses to acknowledge the facts. When this creature expresses complete lack of interest in playing puddle stomp, the little ducking goes off and plays on his own. But the cat is not without remorse for rejecting an offered friendship. Of course it all ends happily, with the two new friends enjoying each other’s company. Bramsen employs brief sentences and the simplest of rhymes to tell this slight tale. The two heroes are meticulously drawn with endearing, expressive faces and body language, and their feathers and fur appear textured and touchable. Even the detailed tree bark and grass seem three-dimensional. There are single- and double-page spreads, panels surrounded by white space and circular and oval frames, all in a variety of eye-pleasing juxtapositions. While the initial appeal is solidly visual, young readers will get the gentle message that friendship is not something to take for granted but is to be embraced with open arms—or paws and webbed feet.
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-375-86990-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 13, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2012
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