A delightful lesson in the joy of living in the moment.
In this sequel to Max and Marla Are Flying Together (2019), best friends Max and Marla embark on a special summer adventure.
Max, an upbeat white boy, and his owl pal, Marla, plan a trip to Australia to “see all the animals along the way.” After ensuring his camera works perfectly to “capture every moment,” Max packs for their trip. Maneuvering their small plane, Max fails to see pelicans flying next to them because he’s fooling with his camera. (Hands-free laws seem not to apply.) At the boat dock, Max searches the sky with his camera, missing seals behind him. Rowing their boat, Max scans the distant ocean through his camera, missing dolphins leaping right around him. Max is clearly too engrossed in his camera to see the wonders all around, prompting wily Marla to surreptitiously take action. As a result, the two friends experience Australia “with their eyes wide open,” meet new friends, and see “wonders everywhere.” Gently humorous illustrations rendered in black outlines and soft colors chronicle Max and Marla methodically preparing for their trip, soaring high in their small plane wearing goggles and aviator helmets, stalwartly rowing their solitary boat with marine life teeming beneath, and joyously interacting with koala bears and kangaroos from the contrasting perspectives of intimate cameos and dramatic full- and double-page vistas.
A delightful lesson in the joy of living in the moment. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: June 16, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-525-51570-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: March 14, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2020
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily.
A group of young “dinosauruses” go out into the world on their own.
A fuchsia little Hugasaurus and her Pappysaur (both of whom resemble Triceratops) have never been apart before, but Hugasaurus happily heads off with lunchbox in hand and “wonder in her heart” to make new friends. The story has a first-day-of-school feeling, but Hugasaurus doesn’t end up in a formal school environment; rather, she finds herself on a playground with other little prehistoric creatures, though no teacher or adult seems to be around. At first, the new friends laugh and play. But Hugasaurus’ pals begin to squabble, and play comes to a halt. As she wonders what to do, a fuzzy platypus playmate asks some wise questions (“What…would your Pappy say to do? / What makes YOU feel better?”), and Hugasaurus decides to give everyone a hug—though she remembers to ask permission first. Slowly, good humor is restored and play begins anew with promises to be slow to anger and, in general, to help create a kinder world. Short rhyming verses occasionally use near rhyme but also include fun pairs like ripples and double-triples. Featuring cozy illustrations of brightly colored creatures, the tale sends a strong message about appropriate and inappropriate ways to resolve conflict, the final pages restating the lesson plainly in a refrain that could become a classroom motto. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-338-82869-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
A soothing, logical, and playful introduction to mindfulness for young listeners.
What can you do when things go wrong?
Two children contemplate different ways to calm themselves down in this straightforward introduction to breathing, relaxation, and mindfulness. The younger, White-presenting child follows suit when the older, brown-skinned child proposes imaginative calming techniques. They picture themselves as various animals (goldfish, elephants, dragons) and objects (pinwheels, dandelions, wind chimes, flowers), inhaling and exhaling, that make deep breathing and calming down concrete and easy to comprehend. Simplified, whimsical illustrations add a touch of humor and a wink to the 1970s while preventing the story from becoming cloying, as soft, gentle instructions help the characters (and listeners) to understand some of the mechanics behind how to intentionally breathe and decompress. While not necessarily something that children will pick up unless they are learning about practicing mindfulness, this informative title has charm and warmth and will give youngsters some ideas as to how to self-regulate and manage their feelings as they learn to be aware of their breathing. Endpapers feature a multiracial array of children’s faces expressing different emotions.
A soothing, logical, and playful introduction to mindfulness for young listeners. (author's note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 13, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-77164-637-6
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Greystone Kids
Review Posted Online: Jan. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
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