A determined gal with a whole lot of heart, Louise will have fans hoping for a fourth outing.
The Sweet Potato Circus may be in trouble, and Louise must pull out all the stops in order to save it.
First, Ringmaster Riley gets angry over a malfunctioning cotton-candy machine that is puffing sugary sweetness out of control. Then Louise overhears two circus performers having a whispery conversation about “audience” and “sales down,” and “save it for this…performance.” None of that can be any good! Her mom tries to reassure her, but Louise knows a very important fact: “Sometimes grown-ups do not want kids to know their worry-ish thoughts. They like to pretend everything is fine-fine-fine.” Times are so desperate that Louise gets help from not only her best friend, Stella, but also their sworn enemy, “ferret-breath” Fernando. The three youngsters must come up with a “eureka!-amazing” new act to attract more audience members and save the show. As in previous Louise Trapeze outings, Louise’s overzealous attitude is infectious, but it gets her in a spot of trouble. Lessons on misinterpretation, eavesdropping, and not jumping to conclusions are all learned. Blue tones accent Barrager’s sketch illustrations this time; though there’s no indication about racial diversity in the book’s interior, the cover reveals Stella to be brown-skinned and Louise to be white.
A determined gal with a whole lot of heart, Louise will have fans hoping for a fourth outing. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2016
ISBN: 978-0553-49747-2
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: July 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A welcome, well-researched reflection of cultural pride in the early-reader landscape.
The fourth installment in Delacre’s early-reader series centers on the rich musical traditions of Puerto Rico, once again featuring sibling tree frogs Rafi and Rosi Coquí.
Readers learn along with Rafi and Rosi as they explore bomba, plena, and salsa in three chapters. A glossary at the beginning sets readers up well to understand the Spanish vocabulary, including accurate phoneticization for non-Spanish speakers. The stories focus on Rafi and Rosi’s relationship within a musical context. For example, in one chapter Rafi finds out that he attracts a larger audience playing his homemade güiro with Rosi’s help even though he initially excluded her: “Big brothers only.” Even when he makes mistakes, as the older brother, Rafi consoles Rosi when she is embarrassed or angry at him. In each instance, their shared joy for music and dance ultimately shines through any upsets—a valuable reflection of unity. Informational backmatter and author’s sources are extensive. Undoubtedly these will help teachers, librarians, and parents to develop Puerto Rican cultural programs, curriculum, or home activities to extend young readers’ learning. The inclusion of instructions to make one’s own homemade güiro is a thoughtful addition. The Spanish translation, also by Delacre and published simultaneously, will require a more advanced reader than the English one to recognize and comprehend contractions (“pa’bajo-pa-pa’rriba”) and relatively sophisticated vocabulary.
A welcome, well-researched reflection of cultural pride in the early-reader landscape. (Early reader. 7-9)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-89239-429-6
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Children's Book Press
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look...
Winning actually isn’t everything, as jazz-happy Rooster learns when he goes up against the legendary likes of Mules Davis and Ella Finchgerald at the barnyard talent show.
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look good—particularly after his “ ‘Hen from Ipanema’ [makes] / the barnyard chickies swoon.”—but in the end the competition is just too stiff. No matter: A compliment from cool Mules and the conviction that he still has the world’s best band soon puts the strut back in his stride. Alexander’s versifying isn’t always in tune (“So, he went to see his cousin, / a pianist of great fame…”), and despite his moniker Rooster plays an electric bass in Bower’s canted country scenes. Children are unlikely to get most of the jokes liberally sprinkled through the text, of course, so the adults sharing it with them should be ready to consult the backmatter, which consists of closing notes on jazz’s instruments, history and best-known musicians.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-58536-688-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
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