More peas, please.
In his second outing, the Runaway Pea gets swept away on an aqueous adventure.
British funnyman and children’s TV show presenter Poskitt returns with another rollicking escapade for the lively and likable legume. Mealtime is over, the dishes have been washed, and now a lonely pea floats in sudsy water in the kitchen sink. When the plug is pulled, he finds himself sucked down the drain, yet he’s anything but scared. This pea is up for a thrill. Drifting along in the water, he meets a vexed little spider in need of dry land, so he offers himself as a flotation device. They whoosh through underground pipes and shoot out into a small river, where they meet a duck and a fish. The happy-go-lucky pea is eager to befriend them, but the spider is wary, and a good thing too, since he saves the pea from the river creatures’ sinister designs. Finally, with the help of a frog, they hit dry land. The spider hurries away forthwith, and for the first time the pea feels “helpless and lost and alone.” Thankfully, Boris the dog comes by for a drink, and the pea manages to get back home by hitching a ride on the dog’s tail...but the adventure isn’t over yet. The rhyming text is fun to read aloud, and the action is snappy. Willmore’s spirited illustrations just add to the fun. Even pea haters will enjoy this amusing caper. Hopefully, adventure No. 3 (already out in the U.K.) will arrive on our shores soon. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
More peas, please. (Picture book. 2-7)Pub Date: Dec. 28, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5344-9016-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Aladdin
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
Warm but underdone.
In this picture book from actor Gyllenhaal and his partner, Caruso, a child and his uncle bond on a fantastic journey.
Leo, an avid dancer, is dismayed when Uncle Mo visits—he’s in town for a “rubber band convention.” Illustrations show both with wavy brown hair and light tan skin. Not only does Leo think his uncle is rather dull, he’s also leery of Uncle Mo’s many rules. A rather abrupt narrative shift occurs when the pair inexplicably drive into another dimension. Here they encounter Great-Aunt Gloria (who is very tall and presents Black) and Uncle Munkle Carbunkle (who is very short and light-skinned), who guide them through the Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles. Unimpressed with Uncle Mo, Great-Aunt Gloria says he must take a quiz on “Auntieology and Uncleology.” After several wrong answers, Uncle Mo has a final chance at redemption: He must state his nephew’s favorite activity. When Leo springs into action to dance for his clueless uncle, a mishap leaves him mortified and un-bespectacled. Enter Uncle Mo to save the day by using a rubber band to secure Leo’s glasses. While Santat’s energetic illustrations do much to clarify the narrative, they can’t fully make up for the disjointed storytelling—it’s never clear why the two have entered this dimension or why Leo is suddenly so eager to help Uncle Mo. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Warm but underdone. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781250776990
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
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