Lots of giggles in this delightfully goofy tale.
In a mashup of two iconic fairy tales, Goldilocks finds herself in the middle of the Three Little Pigs’ battle with the Big Bad Wolf.
When Goldilocks spots an unfamiliar brick house in the woods, she must satisfy her curiosity and barge right in. The three pigs living there are hiding in a closet, frightened by the probable reappearance of their archenemy, the Big Bad Wolf. Goldilocks, brazen as always, heads straight for the porridge, trying each one and enjoying the one that is just right. At that point all three pigs realize Goldilocks has involved herself in the wrong fairy tale, and they tell her so. But here comes the wolf, who, failing to blow down the brick house, tries to come down the chimney. Goldilocks and the pigs work together to build a fire that will get rid of him once and for all. (He is singed and scared but otherwise unharmed.) Thus the wrong fairy tale still leads to a happy ending, with Goldilocks and the pigs best friends forever. Little readers who know both tales will find great joy in pointing out the anomalies while newcomers to the fairy-tale world will love the silly adventures. Turner has created a fun-filled romp greatly aided by Macon’s very brightly hued cartoons depicting a wild-haired, big-eyed Goldilocks (who presents White) and pink pigs whose every emotion is seen in exaggerated facial expressions and body language. Pair it with Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith’s fractured fairy tales or Turner and Macon’s own Jack and the Three Bears (publishing simultaneously); either way the fun increases.
Lots of giggles in this delightfully goofy tale. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-68464-160-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kane Miller
Review Posted Online: Dec. 24, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story.
A home-renovation project is interrupted by a family of wrens, allowing a young girl an up-close glimpse of nature.
Renata and her father enjoy working on upgrading their bathroom, installing a clawfoot bathtub, and cutting a space for a new window. One warm night, after Papi leaves the window space open, two wrens begin making a nest in the bathroom. Rather than seeing it as an unfortunate delay of their project, Renata and Papi decide to let the avian carpenters continue their work. Renata witnesses the birth of four chicks as their rosy eggs split open “like coats that are suddenly too small.” Renata finds at a crucial moment that she can help the chicks learn to fly, even with the bittersweet knowledge that it will only hasten their exits from her life. Rosen uses lively language and well-chosen details to move the story of the baby birds forward. The text suggests the strong bond built by this Afro-Latinx father and daughter with their ongoing project without needing to point it out explicitly, a light touch in a picture book full of delicate, well-drawn moments and precise wording. Garoche’s drawings are impressively detailed, from the nest’s many small bits to the developing first feathers on the chicks and the wall smudges and exposed wiring of the renovation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)
Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: March 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-12320-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021
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