An accessible, humorous tale of family changes—animal or otherwise.
Three new dogs move into a house cat’s home territory.
With a veritably “purrfect” life, Catalina rules the roost. The marmalade cat does what she wants: eats whenever, plays with toys whenever, and naps whenever. Most of the time, her humans leave her home alone, and Catalina can get “a little blue.” Her humans eventually take notice. But when they bring home three Labrador retriever puppies as a solution, they may have overdone it. Catalina finds the pups—Fogo, Burin, and Amherst—to be “too loud, too big, and too many.” As the dogs take over her space and throw off her routine, Catalina gets “cranky.” She gets “contrary.” She gets “CROOKED!” But can she learn to be a good housemate? This Newfoundland import is distinctive, with its childlike cartoon art, small trim size, bold colors, and spare use of black outlines. Two dollhouse-esque cutaway spreads effectively (and hilariously) convey the pets’ personalities. The simplified interior design—aside from loud, repeated patterns—draws focus to the animals. Hidden details cue readers that the humans (shown only from the waist or chest down) are expecting a baby. (One human has pale skin and the other has brown skin; strangely, a sketched photograph on the couples’ nightstand shows them both as White.) A brief glossary explains some of the regionalisms used in the book.
An accessible, humorous tale of family changes—animal or otherwise. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Aug. 10, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-927917-41-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Running the Goat
Review Posted Online: June 1, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
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
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