Though the protagonists miss what could have been a wonderful friendship, readers can learn from their mistakes.
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
PERSPECTIVES
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
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)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Sadly, the storytelling runs aground.
A little red sleigh has big Christmas dreams.
Although the detailed, full-color art doesn’t anthropomorphize the protagonist (which readers will likely identify as a sled and not a sleigh), a close third-person text affords the object thoughts and feelings while assigning feminine pronouns. “She longed to become Santa’s big red sleigh,” reads an early line establishing the sleigh’s motivation to leave her Christmas-shop home for the North Pole. Other toys discourage her, but she perseveres despite creeping self-doubt. A train and truck help the sleigh along, and when she wishes she were big, fast, and powerful like them, they offer encouragement and counsel patience. When a storm descends after the sleigh strikes out on her own, an unnamed girl playing in the snow brings her to a group of children who all take turns riding the sleigh down a hill. When the girl brings her home, the sleigh is crestfallen she didn’t reach the North Pole. A convoluted happily-ever-after ending shows a note from Santa that thanks the sleigh for giving children joy and invites her to the North Pole next year. “At last she understood what she was meant to do. She would build her life up spreading joy, one child at a time.” Will she leave the girl’s house to be gifted to other children? Will she stay and somehow also reach ever more children? Readers will be left wondering. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 31.8% of actual size.)
Sadly, the storytelling runs aground. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-72822-355-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2020
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