A friendship of opposites receives splendid visual treatment. Pearl Barley solves mysteries, chatters and “likes to run amok,” while bashful Charlie Parsley waters daisies, peruses The Benefits of Wearing Felt and hunkers down beneath a pile of pillows. Pearl motorcycle-jumps over a chasm balancing teacups on one foot and a fishbowl on the other, while red yarn swoops down from her wrist into the skein from which Charlie sits calmly knitting. Valiant Pearl’s sword and newspaper hat chase away Charlie’s fears as she confidently holds him piggyback; Charlie’s “lovely beside manner” comforts tired Pearl as he brings her warm milk. Blabey’s spirited and energetic paintings use acrylic and mixed media on textured board. Compositions vary boldly (Charlie’s shyness shows him peeping in from off-page), and deadpan humor runs throughout. The control of color shines: Low-intensity tertiary colors are highlighted with bright bits, while black-and-white pages reveal fatigue, fear, cold and feeling “small or lonely or just plain blue.” Make sure to note Charlie’s wonderfully expressive eyebrows; they, like this book, stand out. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2008
ISBN: 978-1-59078-596-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Front Street/Boyds Mills
Review Posted Online: May 20, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2008
Categories: CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES
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Bear finds a wonderful toy.
Bear clearly loves the toy bunny that he has found sitting up against a tree in the forest, but he wants to help it return to its home. With a wagon full of fliers and the bunny secure in Bear’s backpack, he festoons the trees with posters and checks out a bulletin board filled with lost and found objects (some of which will bring a chuckle to adult readers). Alas, he returns home still worried about bunny. The following day, they happily play together and ride Bear’s tricycle. Into the cozy little picture steps Moose, who immediately recognizes his bunny, named Floppy. Bear has a tear in his eye as he watches Moose and Floppy hug. But Moose, wearing a tie, is clearly grown and knows that it is time to share and that Bear will take very good care of his Floppy. Yoon’s story is sweet without being sentimental. She uses digitized artwork in saturated colors to create a lovely little world for her animals. They are outlined in strong black lines and stand out against the yellows, blues, greens and oranges of the background. She also uses space to great effect, allowing readers to feel the emotional tug of the story.
A winning tale about finding new friends. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-8027-3559-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Feb. 19, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2014
Categories: CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES
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A clueless duckling tries to make a new friend.
He is confused by this peculiar-looking duck, who has a long tail, doesn’t waddle and likes to be alone. No matter how explicitly the creature denies he is a duck and announces that he is a cat, the duckling refuses to acknowledge the facts. When this creature expresses complete lack of interest in playing puddle stomp, the little ducking goes off and plays on his own. But the cat is not without remorse for rejecting an offered friendship. Of course it all ends happily, with the two new friends enjoying each other’s company. Bramsen employs brief sentences and the simplest of rhymes to tell this slight tale. The two heroes are meticulously drawn with endearing, expressive faces and body language, and their feathers and fur appear textured and touchable. Even the detailed tree bark and grass seem three-dimensional. There are single- and double-page spreads, panels surrounded by white space and circular and oval frames, all in a variety of eye-pleasing juxtapositions. While the initial appeal is solidly visual, young readers will get the gentle message that friendship is not something to take for granted but is to be embraced with open arms—or paws and webbed feet.
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-375-86990-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 14, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2012
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES
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