Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS




Best Children's Books of 2012: Picture Books (page 2)


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Cover art for ONE TIMES SQUARE
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 6, 2012
by Joe McKendry, illustrated by Joe McKendry

"Just like Times Square itself, the pages are filled to the brim. (sources) (Nonfiction. 10-14)"
An unexpected history of a very famous intersection. Read full book review >
Cover art for BEAR HAS A STORY TO TELL
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 4, 2012
by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead

"The Steads' work adopts a folkloric approach to cooperative relationships; the affectionately rendered animals that stand in for humans convey a nurturing respect for child readers. (Picture book. 3-7)"
Within a gentle tale of hibernation and renewal, the Steads' second collaboration (after Caldecott-winning A Sick Day for Amos McGee) explores a second, internal theme: the nature of the storytelling narrative itself. Read full book review >
Cover art for MONSIEUR MARCEAU
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 4, 2012
by Leda Schubert, illustrated by Gérard DuBois

"An exceptional life; a stunning achievement. (afterword, source notes, further reading) (Picture book biography. 4-10) "
Audiences thrilled to his mesmerizing performances, in which he spoke through his expressive body without uttering a single word. Read full book review >
Cover art for NEVER TRUST A TIGER
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
retold by Lari Don, illustrated by Melanie Williamson

"An excellent addition to both the folk tale genre and the early-reader shelf. (Folk tale/early reader. 4-7)"
Does one good turn deserve another? Read full book review >
Cover art for CAT TALE
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
by Michael Hall, illustrated by Michael Hall

"Smart and accessible, charming and witty, this is one for educators and adventurers alike. (Picture book. 3-5)"
Hall cleverly plays with homophones in this diverting word adventure. Read full book review >
Cover art for PENNY AND HER DOLL
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Kevin Henkes

"A doll of a beginning reader. (Early reader. 5-7)"
Following Penny and Her Song (2012), Henkes delivers an even stronger slice of anthropomorphic mouse life for beginning readers. Read full book review >
Cover art for DRUMMER BOY OF JOHN JOHN
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
by Mark Greenwood, illustrated by Frané Lessac

"A joy to read. Play calypso music and celebrate! (author's note, glossary and pronunciation guide, author's sources) (Picture book/biography. 3-8)"
Winston, a boy in Trinidad, wishes that he could play in a band and win free rotis, the delicious island specialty prepared by the Roti King and presented to the best performers at Carnival. Read full book review >
Cover art for MOUSTERPIECE
CHILDREN'S
Released: Aug. 21, 2012

"The joyful clarity of both vision and execution thrills. (notes on 22 artists referenced) (Picture book. 3-7)"
Who needs a cookie? Give a mouse a paintbrush! Read full book review >
Cover art for APPLESAUCE
CHILDREN'S
Released: Aug. 1, 2012
by Klaas Verplancke, illustrated by Klaas Verplancke, translated by Helen Mixter

"Reminiscent of Where the Wild Things Are in its visual transformations and emotional intensity, but with a more present and openly loving parent. (Picture book. 4-6)"
"My daddy has warm hands. His fingers taste like applesauce. I wish he had a thousand hands." Read full book review >
Cover art for DAY BY DAY
CHILDREN'S
Released: July 10, 2012
by Susan Gal, illustrated by Susan Gal

"A luminous celebration of family, food and home. (Picture book. 4-9)"
Day by day, brick by brick, a community is built in this winning tribute to fellowship and family. Read full book review >
Cover art for MOM, IT'S MY FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN!
CHILDREN'S
Released: July 3, 2012
by Hyewon Yum, illustrated by Hyewon Yum

"Yum has perfectly captured the emotional ups and downs of both parent and child in a visually expressive work that will shore up adults as they send their children off on that momentous day. (Picture book. 4-7, adult)"
Yum, known for using text and artwork to explore emotions (There Are No Scary Wolves, 2010, etc.), looks at the first day of school from two points of view--that of a little boy who is more than ready and a nervous mother not quite prepared to let him go. Read full book review >
Cover art for A HOME FOR BIRD
CHILDREN'S
Released: June 5, 2012
by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Philip C. Stead

Vernon is both a toad and a forager for found objects. Ambling along with his latest haul, he chances upon a creature he seeks to know and then to help. Read full book review >
Cover art for BEACH FEET
CHILDREN'S
Released: June 1, 2012
by Kiyomi Konagaya, illustrated by Masamitsu Saito, translated by Yuki Kaneko

"A quietly sublime depiction of a child at play by the sea. (Picture book. 2-6)"
In this newest installment in the Being in the World series, Japanese collaborators Konagaya and Saito offer a lovely account of a day in the life of a child at the beach. Read full book review >
Cover art for HOMER
CHILDREN'S
Released: June 1, 2012
by Elisha Cooper, illustrated by Elisha Cooper

"Soothing and satisfying; perfect for reading on the porch on a summer evening, preferably next to a dog. (Picture book. 3-7)"
Stories of patiently waiting dogs have been around for just about forever, or at least since Homer wrote about faithful Argos recognizing Odysseus after a 20-year absence. In Cooper's touching story, the patient pup is an aging yellow Lab named Homer, whose love for his family is as deep and wide as the ocean outside their cottage. Read full book review >
Cover art for I SAW A PEACOCK WITH A FIERY TAIL
CHILDREN'S
Released: May 15, 2012

"Indian folk art triumphantly meets 17th-century English trick verse in this sophisticated graphic venture fit for middle graders on up. (Picture book/poetry. 10 & up)"
Creative worlds collude and collide in this contemporary rendering of a well-known 17th-century English poem. Read full book review >
Cover art for JIMMY THE GREATEST!
CHILDREN'S
Released: May 15, 2012
by Jairo Buitrago, illustrated by Rafael Yockteng, translated by Elisa Amado

"Eye-opening inspiration in this unassuming import from Colombia. (Picture book. 6-8)"
In a thought-provoking twist on the usual immigrant story, a village lad elects to stay put. Read full book review >
Cover art for HIDE & SEEK
CHILDREN'S
Released: May 8, 2012
by Il Sung Na, illustrated by Il Sung Na

"Ready or not! Here comes a book worth finding. (Picture book. 2-5) "
Expert hide-and-seekers will hear the hushed scuttles and feel the quickened pulses as a group of animals plays a rain forest game of hide-and-seek. Read full book review >
Cover art for OCEAN SUNLIGHT
CHILDREN'S
Released: May 1, 2012
by Molly Bang, illustrated by Molly Bang, by Penny Chisholm

"Readers will want to visit more than once to capture both the science and the abundant sense of celebration here. (Informational picture book. 5-11)"
An awe-inspiring lesson in photosynthesis goes under the sea. Read full book review >
Cover art for CHLOE
CHILDREN'S
Released: May 1, 2012
by Peter McCarty, illustrated by Peter McCarty

"Beautifully benign illustrations conjure powerful familial feelings. (Picture book. 3-6)"
Who wouldn't want to put on a monster show in a big, cardboard box or pop bubble wrap at rapid-fire speed? Read full book review >
Cover art for THE BEETLE BOOK
CHILDREN'S
Released: April 3, 2012
by Steve Jenkins, illustrated by Steve Jenkins

"Otherwise, distinguished both as natural history and work of art. (Nonfiction. 7-12) "
Jenkins' splendid array of beetles will surely produce at least one budding coleopterist. Read full book review >