An unusual, thoughtful tale exploring the canine call of the wild.
A pampered, purebred pooch escapes from his owners and enjoys a taste of off-leash freedom.
Little Buzz has fluffy, snow-white fur and an aloof expression. The brief text describes his highly controlled life in an elegant mansion with his owners, who are heard issuing curt commands but never seen. Buzz is taken on walks but isn’t allowed to interact with other animals, sniff at interesting items on the ground, or romp with other dogs at the park. With the encouragement of a friendly bird, Buzz escapes from a groomer’s shop and proceeds to enjoy some unsupervised independence. Bright illustrations in tempera and pastels use a flattened perspective that reflects Buzz’s constrained emotional life. The little dog has a resigned expression throughout until he finds freedom, and only then does a tiny smile show on his face. An ambiguous ending shows muddy Buzz rolling in the grass outside his house, smiling with his bird friend. He’s unsure if he wants to return to his previous life, and there’s a new complication—a white cat staring out the window. This unusual, open-ended conclusion requires readers to interpret Buzz’s situation and consider different ways the story might continue. Some young readers with beloved pets of their own might find it hard to understand why Buzz wouldn’t want to go back to a warm house with plenty of food and his own special bed, prompting conversations.
An unusual, thoughtful tale exploring the canine call of the wild. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4521-7774-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 22, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2019
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Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story.
A home-renovation project is interrupted by a family of wrens, allowing a young girl an up-close glimpse of nature.
Renata and her father enjoy working on upgrading their bathroom, installing a clawfoot bathtub, and cutting a space for a new window. One warm night, after Papi leaves the window space open, two wrens begin making a nest in the bathroom. Rather than seeing it as an unfortunate delay of their project, Renata and Papi decide to let the avian carpenters continue their work. Renata witnesses the birth of four chicks as their rosy eggs split open “like coats that are suddenly too small.” Renata finds at a crucial moment that she can help the chicks learn to fly, even with the bittersweet knowledge that it will only hasten their exits from her life. Rosen uses lively language and well-chosen details to move the story of the baby birds forward. The text suggests the strong bond built by this Afro-Latinx father and daughter with their ongoing project without needing to point it out explicitly, a light touch in a picture book full of delicate, well-drawn moments and precise wording. Garoche’s drawings are impressively detailed, from the nest’s many small bits to the developing first feathers on the chicks and the wall smudges and exposed wiring of the renovation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)
Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: March 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-12320-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind.
The cool beans again step up to do a timorous fellow legume a fava…this time at the pool.
Will a rash decision to tackle the multistory super-slide lead to another embarrassing watery fail for our shy protagonist? Nope, for up the stairs right behind comes a trio of cool beans, each a different type and color, all clad in nothing but dark shades. They make an offer: “It’s not as scary if you go with friends!” As the knobby nerd explains once the thrilling ride down is done, “They all realized that I just needed some encouragement and support.” Just to make sure that both cool and uncool readers get the message, the narrator lets us know that “there are plenty of kind folks who have my back. They’re always there when I need them.” The beany bonhomie doesn’t end at the bottom of the slide, with all gliding down to the shallow end of the pool (“3 INCHES. NO DIVING”) for a splashy finale. This latest early reader starring characters from John and Oswald’s immensely popular Food Group series will be a hit with fans. Fun accessories, such as a bean who rocks pink cat-eye frames, add some pizzazz to the chromatically and somatotypically varied cast.
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind. (Easy reader. 5-7)Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9780063329560
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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