This rhythmic romp slyly shows the value of looking through a different perspective.
“HONK, HONK, HONK! / BEEP, BEEP, BEEP! / ‘Quiet down, I’m trying to sleep!’ ” Traffic sounds shatter the morning’s silence. Then, birds won’t stop chirping during breakfast. The protagonist, a big, blue elephant, walks through town, with loud noises causing irritation and even problems at every turn. In the park: “RUFF, RUFF, RUFF! / YIP, YIP, YIP! / ‘Quiet down, you made me trip!’ ” At the cafe: “CLANK, CLANK, CLANK! / CLINK, CLINK, CLINK! / ‘Quiet down, I spilled my drink!’ ” The peeved pachyderm can’t take it anymore and shouts from the sidewalk: “QUIET DOWN LOUD TOWN!” These words splay out over a double-page spread, just like the elephant’s arms and legs as anger erupts. The following spread is entirely wordless; the elephant’s got its desired silence, but several passersby aim stink-eyes its way. And, when the elephant gets ready for bed, silence is suddenly not as appealing. After dragging in multiple appliances: “All this noise should do the trick… / SNORE! / SNORE! / SNOOOOORE….” But how will the neighbors feel? Hunt’s frenetic angular illustrations match the raucous city and rising frustration all around. The residents are all anthropomorphized animals, walking upright, working community jobs; it makes for a fun hunt to spot them all.
This rhythmic romp slyly shows the value of looking through a different perspective. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Dec. 8, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-328-95782-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Relatable bedtime fare.
In this picture book from comedian Gatto, a little one embarks on a nighttime detective caper while also learning some calming techniques.
Tucked into bed, a light-skinned youngster with a mop of brown hair is almost ready to go to sleep, but something’s missing. Eyes wide, mouth agape, the child wonders, “Where’s Bearry?” The snuggly teddy is lost. Armed with a household map and magnifying glass and trailed by a pup sidekick, the tot searches high and low. “He’s not in the playroom / with my robot and blocks. / He’s not in the hamper / with all the stinky socks.” More searching comes up empty, and the increasingly distraught narrator worries, “Maybe he took a trip on the ferry? / Oh no! I’m freaking out! // WHERE’S BEARRY?!?!” Luckily, the youngster remembers to take a deep breath and count down from three. These actions help soothe the intrepid detective, and suddenly, all becomes clear. (Spoiler alert: Bearry is found.) The jaunty, singsong text trips up a bit here and there but propels the mystery forward. Flowers’ colorful art captures the wide range of emotions the youngster experiences: sadness, panic, serenity, and relief.
Relatable bedtime fare. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2024
ISBN: 9780593750193
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2024
Sweet and silly—good enough for Halloween
The barnyard animals love Halloween. Farmer Brown does not. Sounds like the perfect time for tricks and treats!
Since Farmer Brown wants nothing to do with the scary holiday, “he leaves a bowl of candy on the porch….draws the shades and locks the door.” Out in the barn, though, the party is just getting started. Saturated watercolors show Cow dressed as a skeleton, the chickens looking quite ghostly and the sheep donning witch hats. As field mice and cats arrive, creepy sounds begin. The “crunch, crunch, crunching” and the “creak, creak, creaking” lead to a “tap, tap, tapping.” Hearing them, Farmer Brown peeks out his window to investigate. Readers will chuckle and easily recognize “the dark creature standing beneath the trees.” The farmer, however, runs to his bedroom to pull the covers up over his head. Now the sounds repeat, as the figure comes closer. This time, though, the tapping is followed by a “quack, quack, quackle.” Wait—“Quackle??” Farmer Brown goes out to the porch to find the candy bowl gone and a note on the door announcing, “Halloween Party at the barn!” The chorus of onomatopoeic phrases throughout the briskly paced text guarantees an interactive read-aloud, though fans of Duck’s earlier outings will miss their satiric bite.
Sweet and silly—good enough for Halloween . (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4424-6553-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: July 16, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2013
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