The only surprise this Froggy outing offers is the librarian’s peculiar behavior—maybe it’s time for Froggy to stay in bed
Having eaten out, played T-ball, and, of course, gotten dressed in previous books, Froggy finally visits the library in his 25th outing.
“FRROOGGYY!” his mother yodels. Today is library day. Froggy jumps out of bed and, “zip! zoop! zup! zut! zut! zut! zat!”—he’s dressed and ready to go. The expedition is punctuated by typical Froggy mishaps: he drops all his books, fails to use his indoor voice, stands on the table, and so on. With each infraction, the unnervingly fanged librarian, Miss Otterbottom, chides him. At first spurning storytime as “for babies,” he of course is lured over to the story circle, where he is so excited by her “rhymes and songs” he becomes disruptive. Miss Otterbottom glares—and then decides that she can’t beat him so she’d better join him and leads all the children in wiggly high jinks. It’s all standard stuff, complete with much flopping and silly refrains for audience participation. Remkiewicz makes a serious misstep in continuing to depict Miss Otterbottom with an open book in her lap even as the text indicates that she’s moved on to fingerplays. This will confuse regular storytimers, who are not accustomed to seeing librarians abandon their books halfway through to accommodate disruptive children.
The only surprise this Froggy outing offers is the librarian’s peculiar behavior—maybe it’s time for Froggy to stay in bed . (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-670-01573-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Dec. 21, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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 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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