A sweet, thoughtful story with a pointed message about expressing thankfulness.
A windblown letter effects happy change.
A lost letter falls into a puddle; the water washes off the writing on the envelope. Who sent it, and who is it intended for? The wind opens the letter, which simply reads, “I love you.” Deciding that this beautiful message should be delivered, the wind lets “the letter choose its own destiny.” It makes its way to curmudgeonly Mr. Cat, whose motto is “better a lonely cat than a disappointed one!” Reading the missive cheers him; he searches for the sender. He encounters Ms. Goose. Did she send it? Mr. Cat carries her heavy basket for her, but she hurries away, forgetting to thank him. Next, he spots Mrs. Hen. Perhaps she sent it! He rescues one of her chicks from a tree but receives no thanks. Later, he jump-starts Shepherd Dog’s motorcycle—again, no thanks. Back home, he discovers his grateful neighbors bearing delicious treats, apologetic they hadn’t acknowledged his kindness. Mr. Cat finally feels loved. And the letter? The wind blows it from Mr. Cat’s house—to where? This poignant, uplifting Spanish import offers a satisfying ending and delivers a meaningful message about the importance of gratitude. Children will welcome the opportunity to discuss the letter’s next destination. Clad in old-fashioned garments such as bowler hats and bonnets, the anthropomorphic animals cut whimsical figures in the expressive cartoon art, which incorporates onomatopoeic sound effects.
A sweet, thoughtful story with a pointed message about expressing thankfulness. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2024
ISBN: 9781623544812
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
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
A hilarious autumnal comedy of errors.
A confused squirrel overreacts to the falling autumn leaves.
Relaxing on a tree branch, Squirrel admires the red, gold, and orange leaves. Suddenly Squirrel screams, “One of my leaves is…MISSING!” Searching for the leaf, Squirrel tells Bird, “Someone stole my leaf!” Spying Mouse sailing in a leaf boat, Squirrel asks if Mouse stole the leaf. Mouse calmly replies in the negative. Bird reminds Squirrel it’s “perfectly normal to lose a leaf or two at this time of year.” Next morning Squirrel panics again, shrieking, “MORE LEAVES HAVE BEEN STOLEN!” Noticing Woodpecker arranging colorful leaves, Squirrel queries, “Are those my leaves?” Woodpecker tells Squirrel, “No.” Again, Bird assures Squirrel that no one’s taking the leaves and that the same thing happened last year, then encourages Squirrel to relax. Too wired to relax despite some yoga and a bath, the next day Squirrel cries “DISASTER” at the sight of bare branches. Frantic now, Squirrel becomes suspicious upon discovering Bird decorating with multicolored leaves. Is Bird the culprit? In response, Bird shows Squirrel the real Leaf Thief: the wind. Squirrel’s wildly dramatic, misguided, and hyperpossessive reaction to a routine seasonal event becomes a rib-tickling farce through clever use of varying type sizes and weights emphasizing his absurd verbal pronouncements as well as exaggerated, comic facial expressions and body language. Bold colors, arresting perspectives, and intense close-ups enhance Squirrel’s histrionics. Endnotes explain the science behind the phenomenon.
A hilarious autumnal comedy of errors. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-7282-3520-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: June 1, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021
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