An energetic read-aloud with plenty of repetition and zest.
A town prepares for Bigfoot’s birthday—whether Bigfoot wants a party or not.
The town of Mossy Pockets is abuzz with excitement. Today is Bigfoot’s birthday! But alas, he will not be at the party because (as readers are told in no uncertain terms, with the words sprawled boldly across the page) Bigfoot does not like birthday parties. It’s no matter. The town gathers anyway. The mayor, in his dapper plaid suit, the marching band, the baker with tray piled high with pies, and all the rest: “the cowboy in his boots and vest, / the lady with the purple hat, / the circus clown, the acrobat.” They all parade to the mountains to celebrate. Bigfoot, who in theory should be far away since he dislikes parties so much, has bright blue fur and is seen hiding (ineffectively) on almost every page—peering around corners, concealed in trees, etc. His proximity muddles the suspense a bit, but a comical, cumulative chain of events resulting in a pie-flying catastrophe will make readers (and Bigfoot) smile. Temairik’s flat illustrative style, with pops of color, is full of visual wit—not to mention particularly diverse townsfolk.
An energetic read-aloud with plenty of repetition and zest. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 27, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-63217-004-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little Bigfoot/Sasquatch
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A wandering effort, happy but pointless.
The perfect book for kids who love dragons and mild tacos.
Rubin’s story starts with an incantatory edge: “Hey, kid! Did you know that dragons love tacos? They love beef tacos and chicken tacos. They love really big gigantic tacos and tiny little baby tacos as well.” The playing field is set: dragons, tacos. As a pairing, they are fairly silly, and when the kicker comes in—that dragons hate spicy salsa, which ignites their inner fireworks—the silliness is sillier still. Second nature, after all, is for dragons to blow flames out their noses. So when the kid throws a taco party for the dragons, it seems a weak device that the clearly labeled “totally mild” salsa comes with spicy jalapenos in the fine print, prompting the dragons to burn down the house, resulting in a barn-raising at which more tacos are served. Harmless, but if there is a parable hidden in the dragon-taco tale, it is hidden in the unlit deep, and as a measure of lunacy, bridled or unbridled, it doesn’t make the leap into the outer reaches of imagination. Salmieri’s artwork is fitting, with a crabbed, ethereal line work reminiscent of Peter Sís, but the story does not offer it enough range.
A wandering effort, happy but pointless. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: June 14, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3680-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: March 27, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2012
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series.
Another creature is on the loose.
The long-running series continues its successful formula with this Hallmark card of a book, which features bright illustrations and catchy rhymes. This time, the mythical creature the racially diverse children set out to catch is an absent mom who does it all (lists of descriptors include the words banker, caregiver, nurse, doctor, driver, chef, housekeeper, teacher, entertainer, playmate, laundry service, problem solver, handywoman, cleaner, and alarm clock) but doesn’t seem to have a job outside the home and is inexplicably a dinosaur. As the children prepare gifts and a meal for her, the text becomes an ode to the skills the Mamasaurus possesses (“Day or night she’s always there. / She meets every wish and need”) and values she instills (“Sometimes life can mean hard work,” “kindness matters,” and “what counts is doing your best”). This well-intentioned selection veers into cliche generously sprinkled with saccharine but manages to redeem itself with its appreciation for mothers and all that they may do. Endpapers include a “to” and “from” page framed in a heart, as well as a page where young gift givers or recipients can draw a picture of their Mamasaurus.
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781728274300
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
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