An epicurean tale of bravery and tasty discoveries.
A penguin embarks on a culinary adventure.
Tired of fish, fish, and more fish, a brown-and-white penguin named Umami declares, “I’m finished with all of it.” She sails off in a little boat, eager for new gastronomic opportunities. Along the way, she discovers salty, sour, bitter, and sweet foods that tease her palate and evoke joy. She even comes across a savory flavor that bears her name (umami), along with the heat and vigor of spice. Determined to share her findings with her fellow penguins, she returns to her home shores full of ideas and motivation. But will the other penguins be as daring as she? “There’s only one way to find out,” she declares as she whips up dish after dish for her village, enticing them with delicious new smells. As they each take a bite, silence falls over the penguins, and Umami discovers one more thing—her new purpose and calling as a chef for her friends and family. Grant’s spare text guides Umami through her journey, paired with a classic illustration style that alternates an ocean of white space with bold, textured backgrounds seasoned with red, green, and yellow, evoking Umami’s culinary evolution. While readers might have some questions about the connection between the protagonist’s name and the actual meaning of umami, her experience will certainly inspire them to be similarly adventurous in their own eating habits.
An epicurean tale of bravery and tasty discoveries. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Oct. 29, 2024
ISBN: 9780593624067
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2024
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
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