Readers will giggle, groan, and learn about raccoons as they reconsider what it means to be a finicky eater.
Are raccoons picky eaters?
Readers may not assume so, but this friendly raccoon narrator claims to have always been a fussy eater, just like Mom and Dad. Readers follow along as the raccoon, with their parents, raids a dumpster for years-old moldy green milk and eats fish from the pond scum, beetles from the bottom of the compost, and wormy apples that fall from the tree but draws the line at freshly washed jeans and snails. The narrator is a connoisseur of bright flower and crunchy bee combos (“magnifique!”) and seasonal treats like jack-o’-lanterns (“chef’s kiss!”), but their favorite dish—dog food (“delicioso!”)—requires the sneakiest moves, like distracting the canine with a game of fetch and a daring escape across a fence. Near dawn, the raccoon family returns home with bulging bellies. Remembering their manners, the young raccoon shares some of the night’s bounty with readers. Only very un-picky readers will happily indulge in the offered meal of fish head, moldy pizza, wormy cat food, and crunchy beetles. Woodcut prints and digital collages depict the raccoon with black-rimmed eyes and an expressive face; close-ups of the little creature help build a relationship between readers and the narrator. Colorful background details reinforce facts about the raccoon’s habitats and diet, which won’t seem very picky to most. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Readers will giggle, groan, and learn about raccoons as they reconsider what it means to be a finicky eater. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-374-38954-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022
An accessible entrance into the world of social-emotional skills.
What do you do when the world turns upside down?
Freckled redhead Tilda is a happy only child with a rollicking personality. With lots of books and toys and a multiracial group of friends, life is perfect as far as she’s concerned…until her world undergoes a troubling change (a subtle hint in the illustrations suggests that Tilda’s parents have divorced). Suddenly, nothing feels right, everything seems hard, and she doesn’t want to play with her friends. To reflect this emotional disorientation, the artwork shows Tilda in spatially distorted settings, complete with upside-down objects. It’s not until she sees an upturned ladybug struggle persistently before getting back on its feet (despite Tilda’s desire to help, the ladybug needs to help itself) that Tilda gains the courage to start taking baby steps in order to cope with her new reality. There are still challenges, and she needs to persevere, but eventually, she regains her zest for life and reconnects with her friends. Despite this, the ending avoids an easy happily-ever-after, which feels just right for the subject matter. Though a trifle didactic, the story sends an important message about the roles of self-efficacy and persistence when it comes to overcoming challenges and building resilience. Percival’s digital illustrations use transitions from grayscale to color to create symbolic meaning and have psychological depth, deftly capturing a child’s experience of trauma.
An accessible entrance into the world of social-emotional skills. (author's note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0822-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2022
A soothing, logical, and playful introduction to mindfulness for young listeners.
What can you do when things go wrong?
Two children contemplate different ways to calm themselves down in this straightforward introduction to breathing, relaxation, and mindfulness. The younger, White-presenting child follows suit when the older, brown-skinned child proposes imaginative calming techniques. They picture themselves as various animals (goldfish, elephants, dragons) and objects (pinwheels, dandelions, wind chimes, flowers), inhaling and exhaling, that make deep breathing and calming down concrete and easy to comprehend. Simplified, whimsical illustrations add a touch of humor and a wink to the 1970s while preventing the story from becoming cloying, as soft, gentle instructions help the characters (and listeners) to understand some of the mechanics behind how to intentionally breathe and decompress. While not necessarily something that children will pick up unless they are learning about practicing mindfulness, this informative title has charm and warmth and will give youngsters some ideas as to how to self-regulate and manage their feelings as they learn to be aware of their breathing. Endpapers feature a multiracial array of children’s faces expressing different emotions.
A soothing, logical, and playful introduction to mindfulness for young listeners. (author's note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 13, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-77164-637-6
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Greystone Kids
Review Posted Online: Jan. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2021
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