The loving parental sentiments ring true, and young listeners will chime in on the “hoo” sounds throughout the story.
A proud parent speaks of hopes and dreams for a young child.
In rhyming lines that do not shy away from cliché, the parent owl takes great satisfaction in introducing an owlet to the world: “We’ll never stop exploring, / There’s so much to see and do. / Now you’re here, there’s ALWAYS more / I’m looking forward to.” This sentiment is illustrated with a scene of the two owls flying over a landscape dotted with signposts; a flag on a mountain signals: “Top of the World.” A bay with two tall-masted ships and a whale’s tail is labeled “Wonderful Adventures.” “Going with the flow” is lettered on a sign alongside a river. Although many of the parent-child experiences center on flying, the natural activity of birds, there is one double-page spread that pictures the little owl in distinctly human situations, experimenting with careers such as DJ and florist. This page, composed of many small, humorous vignettes very different from the bold, large images in most of the intensely colored illustrations, is the most fun for a caregiver and child to examine together. The baby owl can be seen presiding over a “World Leaders’ Summit,” becoming a rocket scientist and an archaeologist, climbing Mount Everest, and working as a professional dog walker. The parent owl wisely says: “You see... // whoever you are going to be... / whatever you may do... // wherever you may choose to fly... // ...I’ll ALWAYS love you - hooooooo!”
The loving parental sentiments ring true, and young listeners will chime in on the “hoo” sounds throughout the story. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-61067-621-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kane Miller
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
A nice but not requisite purchase.
A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.
Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.
A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The action of this rhymed and humorous tale centers upon a mouse who "took a stroll/through the deep dark wood./A fox saw the mouse/and the mouse looked good." The mouse escapes being eaten by telling the fox that he is on his way to meet his friend the gruffalo (a monster of his imagination), whose favorite food is roasted fox. The fox beats a hasty retreat. Similar escapes are in store for an owl and a snake; both hightail it when they learn the particulars: tusks, claws, terrible jaws, eyes orange, tongue black, purple prickles on its back. When the gruffalo suddenly materializes out of the mouse's head and into the forest, the mouse has to think quick, declaring himself inedible as the "scariest creature in the deep dark wood," and inviting the gruffalo to follow him to witness the effect he has on the other creatures. When the gruffalo hears that the mouse's favorite food is gruffalo crumble, he runs away. It's a fairly innocuous tale, with twists that aren't sharp enough and treachery that has no punch. Scheffler's funny scenes prevent the suspense from culminating; all his creatures, predator and prey, are downright lovable. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: June 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-8037-2386-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1999
SEEN & HEARD
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
