A good tale to share with little humans who may also have the jitters when faced with new experiences.
A little cattle egret fears that he will lose his cow if he goes to the beach with the rest of his flock.
Every morning the other egrets leave their cows to fly down to the beach, but the protagonist prefers to stay perched on his cow’s shoulders. His cow’s been around a bit; she’s seen the beach and strange things like ukuleles and toasted marshmallows. She encourages the little egret to fly with his flock, but he’s too jittery, even when she assures him she will be right there in their valley with the other cows, waiting for him. When he does fly up and sees the glorious ocean in the distance, he panics. His cow promises to twitch her ears so he can find her; and the next day, the little egret goes to the beach and finds a shell for his cow. When he returns, all the cows are twitching their ears. He’s frantic, but he finds her. Together, cow and egret agree on different signals over successive days that turn out to be just as unhelpful, but the presents he’s brought her each day suggest a solution. Blackaby’s simple tale of separation anxiety may be a bit wordy, but Brundage’s beautiful, line-and-color illustrations of the expressive, only slightly anthropomorphized duo bring the shine. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A good tale to share with little humans who may also have the jitters when faced with new experiences. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5341-1107-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school...
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
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
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