High fives for this tribute to helper dogs.
A thank-you note to therapy dogs of all kinds.
Gianferrari, author of numerous books about animal and human connections, here focuses on dogs as helpers. Gentle text and appealing digital illustrations show canines bringing joy to humans in all kinds of ways. There are support dogs for children in hospitals, courtrooms, and funeral homes, as well as dogs to be read to in libraries. Incarcerated adults are depicted training dogs for therapy roles—an experience that can be just as rewarding for the trainers. With their tail-wagging enthusiasm, soft fur (all the better for cuddling), and attentiveness, dogs provide comfort and confidence. The variety of situations portrayed is wide: We see dogs at work not only in institutions but also in backyards and on beds. In individual scenes and on a final spread showing a dog shelter fundraiser, both dogs and humans range widely in size, shape, age, colors, features, and ability. Though the overall book is simple, the language is pleasingly complex in places, including words like coiffed and nuzzling. Gianferrari has paid careful attention to the sounds of words, with plentiful alliteration and occasional rhyme or repetition. Lobo has included interesting detail; her pictures would also show well to a small group. The book wraps up with a note on therapy dogs and web sources for more information about service dogs.
High fives for this tribute to helper dogs. (Informational picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Dec. 19, 2023
ISBN: 9781250244949
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 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
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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