A rollicking, ridiculous rhyming adventure bound to be in high demand.
A fashion-loving cephalopod goes in search of undies.
Squid craves clothes—especially the tighty whities seen in an ad. Squid’s three stalwart friends Crab, Turtle, and Fish grab some clothes hanging over the side of a young snorkeler’s boat, and a shower of garments floats down. Crab snags a tank top and with a “SNIP! CLIP!” transforms it into a crop top; the raincoat is big enough for three of the sea creatures. After donning the pants, Squid has an “accident” (“I inked”), so Crab offers to swap outfits. But Squid can’t quite control the ink flow, and soon it’s covered everything. Never mind: The four friends aren’t dismayed and decide to adorn the clothes with bows made from eels. Then the angry, tan-skinned snorkeling kid in the boat dives down to reclaim the pilfered clothes: Uh-oh! Squid trades the clothes for the child’s pair of briefs and shares them with the others. Everyone shows off in an undersea parade with other dressed-up creatures. The characters are all big-eyed and smiley. Colorful, sea-tinted pages and free-floating compositions pack a lot of action onto each page, along with surprising rhymes rocking in a four-beat wave-rhythm. Fun to read aloud, this graphic novel will inspire beginners to plunge into reading on their own.
A rollicking, ridiculous rhyming adventure bound to be in high demand. (Graphic fiction/early reader. 4-6)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781665944304
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Simon Spotlight
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily.
A group of young “dinosauruses” go out into the world on their own.
A fuchsia little Hugasaurus and her Pappysaur (both of whom resemble Triceratops) have never been apart before, but Hugasaurus happily heads off with lunchbox in hand and “wonder in her heart” to make new friends. The story has a first-day-of-school feeling, but Hugasaurus doesn’t end up in a formal school environment; rather, she finds herself on a playground with other little prehistoric creatures, though no teacher or adult seems to be around. At first, the new friends laugh and play. But Hugasaurus’ pals begin to squabble, and play comes to a halt. As she wonders what to do, a fuzzy platypus playmate asks some wise questions (“What…would your Pappy say to do? / What makes YOU feel better?”), and Hugasaurus decides to give everyone a hug—though she remembers to ask permission first. Slowly, good humor is restored and play begins anew with promises to be slow to anger and, in general, to help create a kinder world. Short rhyming verses occasionally use near rhyme but also include fun pairs like ripples and double-triples. Featuring cozy illustrations of brightly colored creatures, the tale sends a strong message about appropriate and inappropriate ways to resolve conflict, the final pages restating the lesson plainly in a refrain that could become a classroom motto. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-338-82869-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
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