An original, funny, and satisfying adventure.
In this children’s book, a dastardly ex-pirate gets his comeuppance from a savvy young ship captain.
The Bad Breaker Inn, standing on the rocky coast of Maine, may look impressive, but travelers who stay there often find that their possessions disappear. The innkeeper, Captain “Bad” Breaker, is rumored to be a former pirate; he certainly looks and acts the part, slipping a mickey into the drinks of any guests with something to steal. One day, an unusual new ship, decked out with rainbow-colored masts and fluffy pink sails, docks in town. Breaker wants that vessel, and he’ll use “every last crooked, no good, very bad, and underhanded tool” to get it—and is sure of success when the ship’s captain turns out to be a little blond girl. But there are no flies on Elaine Mermain and her crew. Not only do they prevail, they right a great wrong before putting out to sea again. There’s a lot to enjoy in this humorous tale, especially the descriptions of the key scoundrel. He uses a dog bone to pick his teeth, and his best friend is a skull called the “Head of Doom,” which he squeezes for luck. Faer and debut author Raven deliver exciting moments and a well-deserved fate for Breaker. (Raven is Faer’s 7-year-old daughter.) But the story also possesses a warm heart, as when Elaine shows mercy in triumph. Although the two main characters are pale-skinned, Elaine’s crew is “a motley but beautiful bunch…all sizes and colors,” with rainbow head scarves and a “fierce and furry” black cat companion. A minor problem is the tale’s inconsistent use of rhyme, which can lead to clumsy phrasing: “She and her crew were welcome every day. For free, they could always stay.” The digital illustrations by Capuyan are varied and energetic, offering many amusing details.
An original, funny, and satisfying adventure.Pub Date: Dec. 16, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-79607-812-1
Page Count: 26
Publisher: Xlibris Corp
Review Posted Online: April 21, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
PERSPECTIVES
A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn.
A young owl achieves his grand ambition.
Owl, an adorably earnest and gallant little owlet, dreams of being a knight. He imagines himself defeating dragons and winning favor far and wide through his brave exploits. When a record number of knights go missing, Owl applies to Knight School and is surprisingly accepted. He is much smaller than the other knights-in-training, struggles to wield weapons, and has “a habit of nodding off during the day.” Nevertheless, he graduates and is assigned to the Knight Night Watch. While patrolling the castle walls one night, a hungry dragon shows up and Owl must use his wits to avoid meeting a terrible end. The result is both humorous and heartwarming, offering an affirmation of courage and clear thinking no matter one’s size…and demonstrating the power of a midnight snack. The story never directly addresses the question of the missing knights, but it is hinted that they became the dragon’s fodder, leaving readers to question Owl’s decision to befriend the beast. Humor is supplied by the characters’ facial expressions and accented by the fact that Owl is the only animal in his order of big, burly human knights. Denise’s accomplished digital illustrations—many of which are full bleeds—often use a warm sepia palette that evokes a feeling of antiquity, and some spreads feature a pleasing play of chiaroscuro that creates suspense and drama.
A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-31062-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2022
Visually accomplished but marred by stereotypical cultural depictions.
Ellis, known for her illustrations for Colin Meloy’s Wildwood series, here riffs on the concept of “home.”
Shifting among homes mundane and speculative, contemporary and not, Ellis begins and ends with views of her own home and a peek into her studio. She highlights palaces and mansions, but she also takes readers to animal homes and a certain famously folkloric shoe (whose iconic Old Woman manages a passel of multiethnic kids absorbed in daring games). One spread showcases “some folks” who “live on the road”; a band unloads its tour bus in front of a theater marquee. Ellis’ compelling ink and gouache paintings, in a palette of blue-grays, sepia and brick red, depict scenes ranging from mythical, underwater Atlantis to a distant moonscape. Another spread, depicting a garden and large building under connected, transparent domes, invites readers to wonder: “Who in the world lives here? / And why?” (Earth is seen as a distant blue marble.) Some of Ellis’ chosen depictions, oddly juxtaposed and stripped of any historical or cultural context due to the stylized design and spare text, become stereotypical. “Some homes are boats. / Some homes are wigwams.” A sailing ship’s crew seems poised to land near a trio of men clad in breechcloths—otherwise unidentified and unremarked upon.
Visually accomplished but marred by stereotypical cultural depictions. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6529-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2014
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