by Jonathan Stutzman ; illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 30, 2022
A placid story with a welcome message, even if it lacks subtlety.
Vincent the mouse’s extraordinary house expands to make room for all in need of shelter.
In this generosity-themed fable, Vincent carries his invisible house, stopping where “he knew…he needed to be” to teach a forest of animals that “in my house, all animals are welcome.” His first guest is a weary bullfrog who doubts he can fit inside the tiny animal’s home. But the interior, shown in warm, cozy shades of cream, grows to fit the frog, a hungry cat, a family of damp hedgehogs, and, eventually, a whole group of forest critters gathering together to feast in the magical house. An enormous bear’s arrival tests the group’s tolerance, as they fear he might “eat us!” or “squish us,” but Vincent’s brave insistence that all join in saves the day. Smooth, often repetitive language that’s deliberately formal creates an atmosphere as snug as a cat consuming “fresh honeycomb and warm milk,” though the overt messaging about inclusiveness feels a tad heavy-handed. Delicate gouache, ink, and cut-paper illustrations in a subdued palette mirror the quietness of the text, and seeing the home's interior colors brighten in contrast with the dull drizzle outside is especially satisfying. Bear’s teddy bear–like dimensions are somewhat unfortunate, as they are so benign that they remove any possibility of tension from the story. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A placid story with a welcome message, even if it lacks subtlety. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5362-1679-0
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2022
Share your opinion of this book
More by Jonathan Stutzman
BOOK REVIEW
by Jonathan Stutzman ; illustrated by Heather Fox
BOOK REVIEW
by Jonathan Stutzman ; illustrated by Jay Fleck
BOOK REVIEW
by Jonathan Stutzman ; illustrated by Elizabeth Lilly
by Brandon Sanderson ; illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 24, 2024
Sky-based pyrotechnics make for a fun if somewhat confusing telling.
In this collaboration between sci-fi novelist Sanderson and Amulet creator Kibuishi, an unreliable narrator informs readers that here be no dragons.
“A boy sat in a chair.” The book opens on a bespectacled, light-skinned child in old-fashioned attire. The narration continues, “That’s it. He just sat in a chair,” while on the opposite page, the boy’s chair has unexpectedly whisked him heavenward. The narrator attempts to convince readers that just sitting in a chair is boring. As the story continues, however, the boy is attacked by an array of sky ruffians operating vessels; fight scenes and impressive explosions ensue. A dragon makes an appearance as the narrator drones on about how dull the story is. Kibuishi’s detailed cartoon images depict an enticing steampunk-esque world. Adults reading this book to kids might want to read the text first without the pictures; on a second run they can show off the images, neatly illustrating the important interplay of text and visuals in sequential art. Unfortunately, for all that the illustrations maintain the action at a fair clip, near the end the plot grows muddled as the boy gets out of his chair but then tumbles to the ground: Was he falling and then trying to stop himself? Some adult intervention may be required to clarify what precisely is happening on the page.
Sky-based pyrotechnics make for a fun if somewhat confusing telling. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 24, 2024
ISBN: 9781250843661
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2024
Share your opinion of this book
More by Brandon Sanderson
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
by Brandon Sanderson & Janci Patterson ; illustrated by Hayley Lazo
BOOK REVIEW
by Brandon Sanderson & Janci Patterson ; illustrated by Charlie Bowater & Ben McSweeney
by Alice Hemming ; illustrated by Nicola Slater ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 2021
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
Share your opinion of this book
More by Alice Hemming
BOOK REVIEW
by Alice Hemming ; illustrated by Nicola Slater
BOOK REVIEW
by Alice Hemming ; illustrated by Nancy Leschnikoff
BOOK REVIEW
by Alice Hemming ; illustrated by Nicola Slater
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.