A reggae-singing parrot and his friends deliver a pro-environment message as they rescue an endangered leatherback sea turtle.
Shaggy Parrot and the Reggae Band—a colorful hodgepodge of Caribbean sea-creatures—are having a jam session out on the pier when suddenly Swimpy the shrimp appears. Swimpy reports that Mama Edda, a leatherback sea turtle, is very sick and needs help right away. Shaggy and his friends immediately swing into action; Swimpy takes Dallie Dolphin and Sea Cat to Mama Edda while Shaggy goes in search of Doctor Bird. Once Mama Edda is helped to shore, the doctor examines her and quickly reveals why she’s sick—she’s accidentally swallowed a plastic bag. Doctor Bird immediately goes to retrieve the bag from her throat, but there’s a catch—Mama Edda is also heavy with eggs and needs “the children” need to help dig her nest so that the eggs will have a safe place to hatch. This absolutely delightful narrative is produced by the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ) and is the second in the Reggae Pickney series. Shaggy and his friends are beautifully illustrated by Sanjay Charlton; the vibrant colors bring the animals and their seaside environment to life, while the anthropomorphic expressions on the animals’ faces make them friendly and engaging to young readers. Reggae star Shaggy lends his voice to the title character on the accompanying CD, which is not just a textual read-along but also contains songs and music. Children are encouraged to clap and sing along, and all the while the EFJ manages to sneak in a pro-environmental message, encouraging readers to adhere to the old adage of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” The narrative is a good length, neither too long nor too short, and perfectly suitable for either a classroom reading or an at-home experience between parent and child. The book also contains additional facts about Jamaican wildlife and what conservational efforts young people can make. A deeply enjoyable read—one that will thoroughly delight children while also encouraging them to think and care about the world around them.
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-9769503236
Page Count: 34
Publisher: KQC Enterprises
Review Posted Online: Feb. 14, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Broccoli: No way is James going to eat broccoli. “It’s disgusting,” says James. Well then, James, says his father, let’s consider the alternatives: some wormy dirt, perhaps, some stinky socks, some pre-chewed gum? James reconsiders the broccoli, but—milk? “Blech,” says James. Right, says his father, who needs strong bones? You’ll be great at hide-and-seek, though not so great at baseball and kickball and even tickling the dog’s belly. James takes a mouthful. So it goes through lumpy oatmeal, mushroom lasagna and slimy eggs, with James’ father parrying his son’s every picky thrust. And it is fun, because the father’s retorts are so outlandish: the lasagna-making troll in the basement who will be sent back to the rat circus, there to endure the rodent’s vicious bites; the uneaten oatmeal that will grow and grow and probably devour the dog that the boy won’t be able to tickle any longer since his bones are so rubbery. Schneider’s watercolors catch the mood of gentle ribbing, the looks of bewilderment and surrender and the deadpanned malarkey. It all makes James’ father’s last urging—“I was just going to say that you might like them if you tried them”—wholly fresh and unexpected advice. (Early reader. 5-9)
Pub Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-547-14956-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A nice but not requisite purchase.
A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.
Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.
A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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