A sweet bedtime tale.
In a rain forest, four animal mamas search for their rambunctious, not-at-all-tired babies so they can put them to bed.
The mothers—leopard, elephant, orangutan, and panda—all obviously friends, sit in and under a tree knitting or sewing as they notice that the sun is going down. Meanwhile, in the background, readers can spy the four tots climbing a tree, their fun clearly not yet done. Indeed, their imaginations are still running wild with pirate adventures. But when they realize their mothers are looking for them, the game is on—hide-and-seek, that is. The children try all sorts of camouflage and costumes as they attempt to blend in to the forest backdrop. Meanwhile, their mothers call to them in patterned verse that includes a description and a promise for tomorrow’s fun: “Come now, my leopard, / All spotted and peppered, / Tomorrow you’ll pounce, / You’ll roar and you’ll race.” The gentle rhyming verses are interspersed with onomatopoeic words and moments of tension (“Gotcha!”), though the whole ends on a quiet note that makes this a good choice for children’s own bedtimes. The yellow, orange, and blue palette in the ink, colored pencil, and Photoshop illustrations is striking, especially considering the jungle setting. Although readers shouldn’t expect these animals to be found in the same locale in the wild—or to be friends—it’s a genial outing.
A sweet bedtime tale. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 28, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-525-42832-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: March 19, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2017
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
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
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