A sweet, well-developed tale that will entice and educate young readers.
Concepcion’s illustrated children’s book tells a story about farming and friendship.
Pirate Pearl was an accomplished seafarer, but she felt the food aboard her ship—hardtack biscuits—could be improved. Spotting land, she hops into a small raft with her parrot, Petunia, and paddles to shore. After a long journey, the pirate spots a huge red barn; tuckered out, she collapses but quickly finds herself hoisted into a wheelbarrow by Farmer Fay. The new acquaintance gives Pearl potato soup, which rejuvenates her. Dazzled by this new food, the pirate wishes to be shown the entire potato-growing process. She learns what vitamins potatoes contain, and she’s shocked by various types of farm technology, including sprinklers and tractors. Farmer Fay is kind enough to let Pearl drive the tractor and then explains how potatoes signal that they’re ready to be harvested by dropping their flowers. Pearl wonders if she could grow them aboard her pirate ship and then becomes intrigued by the fact that potatoes can be eaten in many different ways. The next morning, Pearl’s reluctant to leave the farm, but she takes a bunch of potatoes back to her ship and embarks on a new journey. Over the course of this book, Conception delivers an appealing and informative story as Pearl makes new discoveries and a new friend. Burgett’s full-color cartoon illustrations are lighthearted and adorable; Pearl is portrayed with pale skin, and Farmer Fay is an older woman of color with light-brown skin. In a lovely touch that evokes the style of a graphic novel, some spreads include scrolls, used as illustration text inserts. Back matter includes helpful recipes and information about growing potatoes on one’s own. With luck, more agricultural adventures for Pirate Pearl will be on the horizon.
A sweet, well-developed tale that will entice and educate young readers.Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2023
ISBN: 978-1948898157
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Feeding Minds Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Nothing riveting but serviceable enough.
Children are introduced to the concepts of sorting and classifying in this bedtime story.
It is getting close to bedtime, and Marco’s mother asks him to put his toys away. Marco—who thinks of himself as a scientist—corrects her: “You mean time to sort the animals.” And that’s what he proceeds to do. Marco sorts his animals into three baskets labeled “Flying Animals,” “Swimming Animals,” and “Animals That Move on Land,” but the animals will not sleep. So he sorts them by color: “Mostly Brown,” “Black and White,” and “Colors of the Rainbow,” but Zebra is upset to be separated from Giraffe. Next, Marco sorts his animals by size: “Small,” “Medium,” and “Large,” but the big animals are cramped and the small ones feel cold. Finally, Marco ranges them around his bed from biggest to smallest, thus providing them with space to move and helping them to feel safe. Everyone satisfied, they all go to sleep. While the plot is flimsy, the general idea that organizing and classifying can be accomplished in many different ways is clear. Young children are also presented with the concept that different classifications can lead to different results. The illustrations, while static, keep the focus clearly on the sorting taking place. Marco and his mother have brown skin. The backmatter includes an explanation of sorting in science and ideas for further activities.
Nothing riveting but serviceable enough. (Math picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-62354-128-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
We’ll say it: a toothsome experience.
Flash those pearly whites!
Renowned poet Florian’s jaunty rhymes suggest that a hygiene ritual many children consider bothersome can be “fun! fun! fun!” Each spread features lively scenes showing kids demonstrating tooth- and mouth-cleansing techniques as well as two couplets in which the second exclamatory lines—containing a word repeated three times—rhyme with each other (“Toothpaste on the / brush! brush! brush!” “Take your time. / Don’t rush! rush! rush!”). Parents and caregivers seeking an enjoyable, stimulating way to motivate youngsters to perform this important daily task may wish to recite the rollicking verses to provide a pleasant, rhythmic, chanting “background” whenever their kids wield their toothbrushes. The colorful, energetic illustrations depict happy, wide-eyed, racially diverse small children—some with missing teeth—taking care of their oral-hygiene business with gusto. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
We’ll say it: a toothsome experience. (Board book. 2-5)Pub Date: July 5, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-4998-1340-1
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022
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