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WHO STOLE THE MOON?

Name: WHO STOLE THE MOON?
Author: Helen Stratton

by Helen Stratton & illustrated by Vlad Gerasimov & developed by WindyPress ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2012

A solid effort that will please children and parents alike.

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When the moon fails to appear above his skylight one night, a young boy sets out to find the thief who stole it.

Bertie Brown likes to lie in his bed at night and gaze at the moon. One evening it isn’t visible, so he assumes that it must have been stolen. Bertie apologetically asks a host of animals if they have taken it, but they all say no. He finally comes upon a wise owl that explains that the moon hasn’t vanished; the clouds are hiding it from view. There are plenty of interactive and educational opportunities throughout the book’s 23 pages. Unusual animals are introduced; one screen is viewed through a telescope that moves around the page; ladybugs and fireflies change colors when tapped. Kudos to Gerasimov for creating magical illustrations that are sure to feed fertile imaginations. The developer also deserves significant props for bringing the images to life in subtle but powerful ways. Children may wonder, though, how this dedicated watcher of the skies will never have noticed clouds before. Another weak spot is the bonus “vignettes” that feature eight original songs. The tunes are sincere and pleasant enough, but not particularly well crafted, especially the lyrics, which seem to pander primarily to rhyme and meter. Other bonus features include an arcade-type game, several thematic matching challenges and a host of puzzles.

A solid effort that will please children and parents alike. (iPad storybook app. 4-8)

Pub Date: March 5, 2012

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: WindyPress

Review Posted Online: April 7, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2012

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK AND RACER RED

From the Little Blue Truck series

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 25, 2025

A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK MAKES A FRIEND
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry

- BOOK REVIEW
TIME FOR SCHOOL, LITTLE BLUE TRUCK
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by John Joseph

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S VALENTINE
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by John Joseph

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OTIS

From the Otis series

by Loren Long & illustrated by Loren Long ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2009

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Continuing to find inspiration in the work of Virginia Lee Burton, Munro Leaf and other illustrators of the past, Long (The Little Engine That Could, 2005) offers an aw-shucks friendship tale that features a small but hardworking tractor (“putt puff puttedy chuff”) with a Little Toot–style face and a big-eared young descendant of Ferdinand the bull who gets stuck in deep, gooey mud. After the big new yellow tractor, crowds of overalls-clad locals and a red fire engine all fail to pull her out, the little tractor (who had been left behind the barn to rust after the arrival of the new tractor) comes putt-puff-puttedy-chuff-ing down the hill to entice his terrified bovine buddy successfully back to dry ground. Short on internal logic but long on creamy scenes of calf and tractor either gamboling energetically with a gaggle of McCloskey-like geese through neutral-toned fields or resting peacefully in the shade of a gnarled tree (apple, not cork), the episode will certainly draw nostalgic adults. Considering the author’s track record and influences, it may find a welcome from younger audiences too. (Picture book. 5-8)