The message is clear: Just be yourself, and friends will come
A little girl who is new to school uses a cardboard box to make friends.
As soon as she is noticed on the first day, Jessica lifts her teddy bear out of her box—but the children either laugh or walk away. On the second day, she fills her box with cupcakes, but as soon as the other children snatch them up, they leave without even a “thank you.” Her dog, Doris, goes to school in the box on the third day; she is an instant hit—but the groundskeeper takes Doris back home: “Can’t bring dogs to school.” On the fourth day she brings her box, empty, then puts it over her head. “She just wanted to disappear.” But a little boy spots her and begins a game of hide-and-seek: She’s made a friend at last. Carnavas tells his story with a minimum of words, counting on his spacious cartoons to fill in the gaps. Most notable among these is Jessica’s use of a wheelchair, a fact that is never concealed but that is nevertheless de-emphasized in favor of Jessica’s emotions. It’s not quite clear how old Jessica is, and readers may feel that her bringing a teddy bear to school is as silly as her classmates do, but that won’t stop them from empathizing with the lonely little girl. Carnavas’ Bob Graham–esque cartoons use color and humor in equal measure to create a winning protagonist.
The message is clear: Just be yourself, and friends will come . (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-61067-347-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kane Miller
Review Posted Online: Jan. 9, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2015
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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