Kindheartedness meets kismet in this charming tale.
A pangolin named Penny learns about responsibility in Kramer’s picture book.
When Penny Pangolin asks for a pet for her birthday, her parents give her a plant instead. Penny loves her new plant (a Venus flytrap) and treats it with great care, taking it with her everywhere: “Sometimes her parents made the plant stay home. ‘But it’ll be lonely!’ Penny protested.” The only trouble is that the plant is quiet, and not cuddly like other pets. So, Penny asks her parents again for a pet; having witnessed Penny’s dedication to her plant, they acquiesce. When Penny discovers a trapped baby red panda, the critter turns out to be orphaned, so the Pangolins adopt him (Penny names him Mooky). Zivanovic’s illustrations use negative space on white pages and simple backgrounds on full-color pages, drawing readers’ focus to the detailed characters. The illustrations blend realistic fine pencil work and three-dimensional textures for the anthropomorphic characters and their clothing. The prose is descriptive and vibrant, and Penny’s empathetic inner life gives the story sincere depth. (“Penny tried to feel happy that Mooky would get to go home, but inside she felt like crying.”) Readers are invited to search the pictures for delightful details, like a jeweled flower mantis in the garden, or a rogue Vietnamese pheasant in the woods, which are labeled at the end of the book.
Kindheartedness meets kismet in this charming tale.Pub Date: March 12, 2023
ISBN: 9781955997133
Page Count: 34
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: June 5, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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
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