When his baby sisters and brothers arrive, a rabbit moves to a new big bed. He stations his stuffed animals around the room to ward off lurking monsters: Raggy and Wallop atop the armoire, Tig and Patsy under the bed, Spotty and Mary under the chair. After the father presses a kiss of sweet dreams upon his eyelids (``Now keep them shut. Don't let the dreams escape''), the rabbit dreams of shadows and the monster therein: ``It wakes me up. I hide under the covers. I keep very still. I keep very quiet. It is very hot.'' His toy bear helps get him through the night. The father suggests a nightlight, but the small rabbit demurs, bringing all his pals into bed, and even inviting the monster along into the swirl of that night's dream. Porter acknowledges the things that go bump in every child's night without allowing terror to creep into the book, and kids can take heart in the reminders: that adults are near, that toys can be stalwart companions, that lights can be turned on as easily as they are turned off. The book comes loaded with flexible, sturdy lift-up flaps to reveal hidden places (under the bed and such), and the illustrations are cheery confections sure to keep demons at bay. (Picture book. 3-7)
Pub Date: Nov. 13, 1996
ISBN: 0-7894-1104-0
Page Count: 20
Publisher: DK Publishing
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1996
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
A nice but not requisite purchase.
A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.
Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.
A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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