SKUNK ON A STRING

Name: SKUNK ON A STRING
Author: Thao Lam
ISBN: 978-1-77147-131-2

by Thao Lam ; illustrated by Thao Lam ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 15, 2016

There are multiple reasons to return to the beginning, not the least of which is the impulse to figure out how to mimic such...

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How a skunk came to have a magenta balloon tied to its foot is a mystery, but there it is, bobbing upside down through town on a wordless journey.

At first just the balloon and string are visible—on the endpapers and title page, then floating among an assortment of helium counterparts carried by costumed parade participants. The black-and-white creature moves on, rising and falling through differently sized and shaped sequential panels. It passes ethnically diverse individuals seen through windows in an apartment complex; the sight of it causes a woman below to be “watered” by the surprised flowerbox gardener above. Some characters attempt assistance: a crane worker offers a sandwich, an elephant extends its trunk. Each action causes a reaction, displaying Lam’s facility in arranging cut paper to show motion. Her colorful collages present a pleasing balance of white space, interesting patterns, bright solids, and stylized shapes. (Well-read viewers will find subtle references to Eric Carle.) She orchestrates suspense and comedy, as in the hilarious view of her protagonist’s puffy cheeks during an underwater scene. When the skunk finally frees itself, its rueful expression speaks volumes; ultimately, the creature masterminds a plan and resumes life aloft.

There are multiple reasons to return to the beginning, not the least of which is the impulse to figure out how to mimic such clever compositions. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: March 15, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-77147-131-2

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Owlkids Books

Review Posted Online: Dec. 7, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2015

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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ONE GIANT LEAP
by Thao Lam ; illustrated by Thao Lam

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME
by Thao Lam ; illustrated by Thao Lam

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THE LINE IN THE SAND
by Thao Lam ; illustrated by Thao Lam

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: June 21, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
ON THE FIRST DAY OF FIRST GRADE
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Sarah Jennings

- BOOK REVIEW
FIVE LITTLE BUNNIES
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

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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.

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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)