Arrr…frolicsome imagery cannot save this landlubber rodent from sinking beneath his book’s awkward text.
A scrappy, scurvy squirrel finds his heart’s desire.
Sammy lives in the forest but dreams of being a pirate on the high seas. When he stumbles upon a treasure map, it appears his prayers have been answered. Alas, his path is fraught with dangers, from toothy crocodiles to prickly porcupines to haunted swamps. Besting each challenge, Sammy reaches his destination, but what’s this? No treasure? Distraught, Sammy kicks the nearest tree—and what rains down upon him will surprise few. Pigott’s mixed-media art portrays Sammy as a chipper red squirrel, complete with the obligatory, stereotypical eye patch, pirate hat, and jaunty gold earring. Disability cliché aside, the pictures have a lot of appeal, deeply saturated colors popping off the page. Occasionally the book is positively atmospheric, as when Sammy finds himself adrift in a misty marsh. Unfortunately, the text is characterized by clunky verse and a hectoring narrative voice: “Run away, Sammy, from this spooky trap! / We’re nearly at X marks the spot on the map!” The book ends with a sudden flashback to the original squirrel pirates that buried their acorn treasure, planting the mighty oaks that reward Sammy. (Squirrel pirates have it hard, considering that their buried treasure tends to sprout.)
Arrr…frolicsome imagery cannot save this landlubber rodent from sinking beneath his book’s awkward text. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-62370-652-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2016
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
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together.
A clueless duckling tries to make a new friend.
He is confused by this peculiar-looking duck, who has a long tail, doesn’t waddle and likes to be alone. No matter how explicitly the creature denies he is a duck and announces that he is a cat, the duckling refuses to acknowledge the facts. When this creature expresses complete lack of interest in playing puddle stomp, the little ducking goes off and plays on his own. But the cat is not without remorse for rejecting an offered friendship. Of course it all ends happily, with the two new friends enjoying each other’s company. Bramsen employs brief sentences and the simplest of rhymes to tell this slight tale. The two heroes are meticulously drawn with endearing, expressive faces and body language, and their feathers and fur appear textured and touchable. Even the detailed tree bark and grass seem three-dimensional. There are single- and double-page spreads, panels surrounded by white space and circular and oval frames, all in a variety of eye-pleasing juxtapositions. While the initial appeal is solidly visual, young readers will get the gentle message that friendship is not something to take for granted but is to be embraced with open arms—or paws and webbed feet.
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-375-86990-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 13, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2012
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