Cute and delightful despite a few hitches.
The animals of the Chinese zodiac are having a party.
One sunny day, each of the animals in the Chinese zodiac heads up a hill with something special. Horse trots up the hill, pulling a cart with a big wok in it, Goat strolls along, carrying wild onions, Monkey climbs up, holding oil and spices, and so on. Each animal is charmingly depicted with earthy tones and block-print–like textures on a double spread, with only a single sentence describing the animal, how it moves, and what it brings. Compestine cleverly hints at the feast to come without giving the plot away. But wait—why is Snake, the final animal, slithering up the hill with nothing? Readers find out in the final spread, which reads, “Happy birthday, Snake!” While the story is appealing and perfect for preschool listeners, some cultural details may derail their adult caregivers. Why is Horse the first animal up the hill when, according to legend, Rat is the first in the zodiac? Why is the snake singled out? And why is the book called Dragon Noodle Partywhen noodles are only one of the items brought? This last question is answered in the backmatter, which provides clarity on the importance of noodles in birthday celebrations, information about the zodiac (and its correct order), and a recipe for dragon beard noodles. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Cute and delightful despite a few hitches. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Dec. 13, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-8234-4950-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Cookie-cutter predictability.
After all the daring escapes in the How To Catch… series, will the kids be able to catch Santa?
Oddly, previous installments saw the children trying (and failing) to catch an elf and a reindeer, but both are easily captured in this story. Santa, however, is slippery. Tempted but not fooled by poinsettias, a good book (attached to a slingshot armed with a teddy bear projectile), and, of course, milk and cookies, Santa foils every plan. The hero in a red suit has a job to do. Presents must be placed, and lists must be checked. He has no time for traps and foolery (except if you’re the elf, who falls for every one of them). Luckily, Santa helps the little rascal escape each time. Little is new here—the kids resort to similar snares found in previous works: netting, lures, and technological wonders such as the Santa Catcher 5000. Although the rhythm falters quite a bit (“How did we get out you ask? / It looked like we were done for. / Santa’s magic is very real, / and I cannot reveal more”), fans of the series may not mind. Santa and Christmas just might be enough to overcome the flaws. Santa and the elf are light-skinned, one of the children is brown-skinned, and the other presents as Asian. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Cookie-cutter predictability. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2023
ISBN: 9781728274270
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
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