bookshelf

SAY HELLO?

Name: SAY HELLO?
Author: Sung Mi Kim
ISBN: 978-1-922610-49-2

by Sung Mi Kim ; illustrated by Sung Mi Kim ; translated by Clare Richards ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 6, 2022

Though the protagonists miss what could have been a wonderful friendship, readers can learn from their mistakes.

bookshelf

Kim captures those awkward moments when someone moves in next door and reaching out to say hello becomes difficult.

When the Fox family moves next door to Mr. Wolf, both Little Fox and Mr. Wolf know saying hello would be the neighborly thing to do. But when they first meet, both are in a bad mood, and they silently pass each other by. As days pass, saying hello becomes even harder, especially after a series of inadvertent missteps and hurt feelings. Soon, the pair begin to cast side-eyes at each other, and they are locked in a battle of wills. Who will say hello first? Neither does, and both rejoice when Mr. Wolf eventually moves away. As fate would have it, they later meet while crossing a street, recognize each other, say hello, and realize that greeting each other wasn’t so hard. In contrast to the black-and-white outlined illustrations of urban scenes, each character is drawn in a distinct color, pink for Little Fox and blue for Mr. Wolf. Although most illustrations place the two in large city scenes, full-page close-ups of Little Fox and contrasting close-ups of the two protagonists make their emotions clear. This simple Korean import is told primarily through the characters’ dialogue and thoughts, making it a perfect choice for dramatic read-alouds and role-playing to help children empathize with others and polish their social graces. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Though the protagonists miss what could have been a wonderful friendship, readers can learn from their mistakes. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-922610-49-2

Page Count: 44

Publisher: Berbay Publishing

Review Posted Online: June 7, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2022

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- PERSPECTIVES
16 Picture Books Sure To Delight Kids This Fall

bookshelf

PEANUT BUTTER & CUPCAKE

by Terry Border ; illustrated by Terry Border ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 29, 2014

Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school...

bookshelf

The familiar theme of the challenges facing a new kid in town is given an original treatment by photographer Border in this book of photos of three-dimensional objects in a simple modeled landscape.

Peanut Butter is represented by a slice of white bread spread with the popular condiment. The other characters in the story—a hamburger with a pair of hot dogs in tow, a bowl of alphabet soup, a meatball jumping a rope of spaghetti, a carton of French fries and a pink cupcake—are represented by skillfully crafted models of these foods, anthropomorphized using simple wire construction. Rejected by each character in turn in his search for playmates, Peanut Butter discovers in the end that Jelly is his true match (not Cupcake, as the title suggests), perhaps because she is the only one who looks like him, being a slice of white bread spread with jelly. The friendly foods end up happily playing soccer together. Some parents may have trouble with the unabashedly happy depiction of carbs and American junk food (no carrots or celery sticks in this landscape), and others may find themselves troubled by the implication that friendship across difference is impossible.

Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school experiences. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: July 29, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-399-16773-7

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Philomel

Review Posted Online: May 13, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
SCAREDY SNACKS!
by Terry Border ; illustrated by Terry Border

- BOOK REVIEW
SNACK ATTACK!
by Terry Border ; illustrated by Terry Border

- BOOK REVIEW
BIG BROTHER PEANUT BUTTER
by Terry Border ; illustrated by Terry Border

bookshelf

IT'S NOT EASY BEING A GHOST

From the It's Not Easy Being series

by Marilyn Sadler ; illustrated by Stephanie Laberis ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 13, 2024

Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.

bookshelf

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)