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THE BOY WHO CRIED POOP

Name: THE BOY WHO CRIED POOP
Author: Alessandra Requena
ISBN: 9780711288294

by Alessandra Requena ; illustrated by Guilherme Karsten ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 6, 2023

When you gotta go, you gotta go…and read this comical, all-too-relatable tale of a potty mishap.

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Oops—or, rather, poops! Accidents happen.

It’s the first day of vacation, and savvy Dad asks if the nameless narrator or their younger brother, Marc, needs to use the bathroom before they head to the pool. “NO!” Bidding farewell to Mom and other family members, they descend “exactly 168 steps.” No sooner do the kids jump into the empty pool than Marc announces that he desperately needs to go No. 2. Marching back upstairs, the family runs into assorted neighbors. However, when Marc sits on the pot, he can’t deliver the goods, so they return downstairs. This frenetic scenario repeats itself. But when they make it downstairs a third time, Dad’s too pooped to make another trek when Marc moans that he really has to go, then finally does—right in the water. What could have been an eww moment becomes a surprisingly reassuring one when a few folks—big sibling plus those encountered on the staircase during the family’s several journeys—confide their own poop-your-pants experiences. Marc is relieved to learn that “everyone poops their pants sometimes.” (Readers will feel similarly.) This take on a perennially popular topic will grab children’s attention and promote empathy. The colorful digital illustrations are humorously energetic; characters are very expressive. Dad, Mom, Marc, and the narrator are brown-skinned; the supporting cast is racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

When you gotta go, you gotta go…and read this comical, all-too-relatable tale of a potty mishap. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: June 6, 2023

ISBN: 9780711288294

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Frances Lincoln

Review Posted Online: March 13, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: June 21, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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A PERFECT PLACE TO PLAY
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Jim Valeri

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF FIRST GRADE
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Sarah Jennings

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FIVE LITTLE BUNNIES
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

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THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING

by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2014

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...

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Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.

First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)