by Kristina Andres ; illustrated by Kristina Andres ; translated by Sally-Ann Spencer ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2018
The design and premise are appealing, but the overall execution doesn’t measure up
A collection of short stories about a friendship between a fox and a rabbit.
Young readers can take these bedtime entries singly or a few at a time, depending on evening energy. Friendship stories in the tradition of Frog and Toad or Elephant and Piggie are perennial favorites; however, the personalities here aren’t as distinct or as humorously juxtaposed as in the former two pairs. Simple chapter titles (“First Story”) are refreshingly clear if unusually nondescriptive; oddly, the conspicuously flagged “half” story—the “Eighth Story (and a Half)”—is not distinguished in any obvious way, including brevity. Story quality is uneven; several in which Fox and Rabbit can’t fall asleep truly engage. The first one, though, carries a whiff of stereotype reinforcement when Fox, covered inadvertently in chimney dust, is mistaken “for the wolf in the leather jacket” and assumed to be a threat due to his coal color. Wolf’s aggressive response to a perceived insult may be the “half” story; if so, it’s a jarring addition. Watercolors in earthy tan, green, aqua, and gray, outlined in scratchy black, fit the rustic setting. Full-color pictures—some spot, others full-page—add interest; white space, some relatively text-heavy pages, and a trim size smaller than a traditional picture book signal suitability for emerging independent readers.
The design and premise are appealing, but the overall execution doesn’t measure up . (Fiction. 5-9)Pub Date: March 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-77657-143-7
Page Count: 60
Publisher: Gecko Press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 20, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2018
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More by Kristina Andres
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by Kristina Andres & illustrated by Kristina Andres
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by Daymond John ; illustrated by Nicole Miles ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 21, 2023
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists.
How to raise money for a coveted poster: put your friends to work!
John, founder of the FUBU fashion line and a Shark Tank venture capitalist, offers a self-referential blueprint for financial success. Having only half of the $10 he needs for a Minka J poster, Daymond forks over $1 to buy a plain T-shirt, paints a picture of the pop star on it, sells it for $5, and uses all of his cash to buy nine more shirts. Then he recruits three friends to decorate them with his design and help sell them for an unspecified amount (from a conveniently free and empty street-fair booth) until they’re gone. The enterprising entrepreneur reimburses himself for the shirts and splits the remaining proceeds, which leaves him with enough for that poster as well as a “brand-new business book,” while his friends express other fiscal strategies: saving their share, spending it all on new art supplies, or donating part and buying a (math) book with the rest. (In a closing summation, the author also suggests investing in stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrency.) Though Miles cranks up the visual energy in her sparsely detailed illustrations by incorporating bright colors and lots of greenbacks, the actual advice feels a bit vague. Daymond is Black; most of the cast are people of color. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists. (Picture book. 7-9)Pub Date: March 21, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-56727-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
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by Lala Watkins ; illustrated by Lala Watkins ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 7, 2025
Say hello to a relatable and rewarding early reader!
Fun with friends makes for a great day.
Norbit, a salmon-colored worm with a pink kerchief, joyfully greets the day and everyone he encounters. “Hello, friends! It’s time for fun with the sun! Let’s play!” He and his menagerie of forest pals—including the sun, who grows limbs and descends from the sky—exuberantly engage in various forms of physical activity such as jumping, going down a slide, spinning around, and watching the clouds go by. Young readers will readily relate, as these are games that most children are familiar with. As day turns to night, Norbit says farewell to Sun and welcomes Moon with an invitation to continue the fun. Watkins has created a vivid world of movement and merriment. Her illustrations feature bright bursts of color that match the energy of the text, with most sentences ending in an exclamation point. The author/illustrator incorporates many elements that make for an ideal early-reading experience (despite the use of a contraction or two): art free from clutter, text consisting of words with only one or two syllables, and repetition and recurring bits, such as a continued game of hide-and-seek with Sun. Inspired by never-before-seen sketches from the Dr. Seuss Collection archives at the University of California San Diego, this is the first title for Seuss Studios, a new imprint for original stories from “emerging authors and illustrators” who “honor Seuss’s hallmark spirit of creativity and imagination.”
Say hello to a relatable and rewarding early reader! (author's note) (Early reader. 5-8)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9780593646212
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Seuss Studios
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
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More by Eric Adjepong
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by Eric Adjepong ; illustrated by Lala Watkins
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by Joan Marr ; illustrated by Lala Watkins
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by Angela H. Dale ; illustrated by Lala Watkins
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