Readers will enjoy spotting a pile of books, a basketball, and a skateboard among Daniela’s personal cargo as they go...
An intrepid redhead à la Pippi Longstocking sails the seven seas tracking down the most feared pirate ship in all the world—the Black Croc.
In this piratical offering from Spain, Daniela is determined to join the Black Croc’s nefarious crew, and nothing the captain demands quells her indomitable spirit. Swim to the bottom of the sea and back again with a giant squid—no problem. One hundred squats while hoisting a treasure-filled chest overhead—bring it on. Jump into a croc-infested pit—piece of cake. Be a pirate—nope! Girls can’t be pirates. Chauvinistic Capt. Choppylobe will not be budged, so his commendably diverse crew takes a vote. Hooray for Capt. Daniela! The Black Croc is still the scourge of the seven seas…and an equal-opportunity outfit to boot. Isern’s salty (but a trifle long) tale reads equally smoothly in both the original Spanish (publishing in the U.S. simultaneously) and English translation, with the exception of the odd-sounding captain’s name. Orejacortada could have been translated as Sliced-ear, Nicked-ear, Chopped-ear, etc. Gómez’s exuberant and colorfully detailed illustrations carry the sagging midpoint forward and reinforce the Pippi Longstocking motif. From Daniela’s superhuman strength to her very own treasure chest, echoes of the Swedish icon haunt the text. But even the grimacing Black Croc’s prow smiles by story’s end despite the buccaneers’ heavy-handed if praiseworthy speech about fairness.
Readers will enjoy spotting a pile of books, a basketball, and a skateboard among Daniela’s personal cargo as they go adventuring with her and her scurvy crew. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 4, 2018
ISBN: 978-84-17123-12-3
Page Count: 44
Publisher: NubeOcho
Review Posted Online: July 23, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts.
In this latest slice in the Food Group series, Humble Pie learns to stand up to a busy friend who’s taking advantage of his pal’s hard work on the sidelines.
Jake the Cake and Humble Pie are good friends. Where Pie is content to toil in the background, Jake happily shines in the spotlight. Alert readers will notice that Pie’s always right there, too, getting A-pluses and skiing expertly just behind—while also doing the support work that keeps every school and social project humming. “Fact: Nobody notices pie when there’s cake nearby!” When the two friends pair up for a science project, things begin well. But when the overcommitted Jake makes excuse after excuse, showing up late or not at all, a panicked Pie realizes that they won’t finish in time. When Jake finally shows up on the night before the project’s due, Pie courageously confronts him. “And for once, I wasn’t going to sugarcoat it.” The friends talk it out and collaborate through the night for the project’s successful presentation in class the next day. John and Oswald’s winning recipe—plentiful puns and delightful visual jokes—has yielded another treat here. The narration does skew didactic as it wraps up: “There’s nothing wrong with having a tough conversation, asking for help, or making sure you’re being treated fairly.” But it’s all good fun, in service of some gentle lessons about social-emotional development.
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9780063469730
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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