For readers unfamiliar with opera, this adventure will likely soar over heads like reindeer over rooftops; but for fans, it...
A new Christmas tale to share with children features singing reindeer and a treatment of the traditional Rudolph story with all the trills and leitmotifs of an opera.
As Act I of this debut picture book opens, a young anthropomorphic reindeer named Rudolfoletto (an allusion to Verdi’s Rigoletto) is born with a brightly glowing green nose. If that wasn’t enough to make him the object of mockery among his peers, he loves both opera and sweets of all kinds. His parents try to convince him to switch to salty snacks like other reindeer, but he remains resolute. In Act II, classmates mock Rudolfoletto at school for his green nose despite his having captured the attentions of a Scottish lass, Lucia di L’Antlermoor (evoking Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor). Luckily, due to Rudolfoletto’s high grades, he’s promoted to High Prancing School, where Santa Claus presides as headmaster. A cheerily singing Santa advises his reindeer students how to guide his sleigh in a double aria; Rudolfoletto grows quite attached to his new teacher, and they bond over their love of sweets and their hometown. When a fog rolls in on Christmas Eve, a crisis looms “despite efforts of the elf technicians to design an app to fix the problem,” a nice nod to a modern audience. Readers shouldn’t be surprised that Rudolfoletto’s nose saves the day, but the familiar story should generate giggles from children acquainted with opera or lap readers whose parents bravely burst into song, inspired by the many parodies that fill the pages. Presented like a libretto, with character names in caps, and with every image showing a member of the cast delivering information through song, the old carol feels as though it belongs on stage. Carlisle’s charming illustrations mix reindeer who stand like humans with their more naturally postured compatriots. The strategy never feels awkward; instead, it distinguishes the main characters from the chorus. Wheeler, a history professor and opera aficionado, offers a glossary at the end, detailing what each song title references as well as explaining musical terms such as aria and duet.
For readers unfamiliar with opera, this adventure will likely soar over heads like reindeer over rooftops; but for fans, it should generate a Christmas “Bravo!” with the promise of many requested encores.Pub Date: Dec. 4, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-937721-26-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: Jetty House
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Little Blue’s fans will enjoy the animal sounds and counting opportunities, but it’s the sparkling lights on the truck’s own...
The sturdy Little Blue Truck is back for his third adventure, this time delivering Christmas trees to his band of animal pals.
The truck is decked out for the season with a Christmas wreath that suggests a nose between headlights acting as eyeballs. Little Blue loads up with trees at Toad’s Trees, where five trees are marked with numbered tags. These five trees are counted and arithmetically manipulated in various ways throughout the rhyming story as they are dropped off one by one to Little Blue’s friends. The final tree is reserved for the truck’s own use at his garage home, where he is welcomed back by the tree salestoad in a neatly circular fashion. The last tree is already decorated, and Little Blue gets a surprise along with readers, as tiny lights embedded in the illustrations sparkle for a few seconds when the last page is turned. Though it’s a gimmick, it’s a pleasant surprise, and it fits with the retro atmosphere of the snowy country scenes. The short, rhyming text is accented with colored highlights, red for the animal sounds and bright green for the numerical words in the Christmas-tree countdown.
Little Blue’s fans will enjoy the animal sounds and counting opportunities, but it’s the sparkling lights on the truck’s own tree that will put a twinkle in a toddler’s eyes. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-544-32041-3
Page Count: 24
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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