by Alice Schertle & illustrated by Ted Rand ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2002
A reassuring and recognizable bedtime (and counting) story—first published in 1985—is given new pictures full of vibrant texture and sweet energy. Hattie is leading a parade of her stuffies, counting them by name, and describing their personalities. Number four is Parker, who had lost a bunny ear in the washer; Seven is the teddy bear, named Clam Chowder “ever since he fell into Hattie’s soup.” It is bedtime, and Mama and Daddy help Hattie carry everyone upstairs. But each time one of her parents says, “Good night, Hattie, my dearie, my dove,” she finds a reason to add another buddy. Dinah the doll has “inside chicken pox”; she promised Hairy that he could sleep in her bed; Boomer is afraid of chickens in the closet; and so on, until all of the toys are tucked in so one can scarcely see Hattie. Finally, Mama says good night to each in turn, and the last frame finds Hattie sound asleep, surrounded by her loved ones. Rand portrays the grubby surface, furry or bristly arms, and bright-eyed demeanor of Hattie’s toys with great tenderness and clarity. The numbers appear along with the toys and again within the text and are painted in rich colors that pick up those of the animals. Very nice to have a new version of this one. (Picture book. 3-7)
Pub Date: April 1, 2002
ISBN: 0-688-16022-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2002
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by Laurie Berkner ; illustrated by Camille Garoche ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 7, 2017
For Berkner’s fans; there are much better books about children visiting imaginative lands.
Berkner’s children’s song gets the picture-book treatment with illustrations from Garoche.
What kid hasn’t made a massive pillow fort and imagined all sorts of adventures? Well, Berkner’s premise is that there is a land where everything is made of pillows, and three lucky children get to visit there. (They appear to be siblings, perhaps a blended family: Mom and one girl are black; Dad, one boy, and one girl are white.) The illustrations transition between depictions of obvious imaginative play in a bedroom to a fantasy world and back again at the end, when the parents peek in at the three asleep. Garoche’s art consists of photos of papercut artwork arranged in dioramas with some Photoshop details. Reminiscent of Michael Garland’s work (though more pastel in color) or that of Elly McKay (though less ethereal), the illustrations are a mixed bag, with layers and hard edges juxtaposed against all the pillows. The king and queen of the song are obviously stand-ins for the parents. Children who know the tune may not sit still for a reading, while those who don’t may wonder at the repeated refrain.
For Berkner’s fans; there are much better books about children visiting imaginative lands. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4814-6467-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2017
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by Jerry Spinelli and illustrated by Jimmy Liao ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2010
A young boy wonders aloud to a rabbit friend what he will be when he grows up and imagines some outrageous choices. “Puddle stomper,” “bubble gum popper,” “mixing-bowl licker,” “baby-sis soother” are just some of the 24 inspiringly creative vocations Spinelli’s young dreamer envisions in this pithy rhymed account. Aided by Liao’s cleverly integrated full-bleed mixed-media illustrations, which radiate every hue of the rainbow, and dynamic typesetting with words that swoop and dive, the author’s perspective on this adult-inspired question yields some refreshingly child-oriented answers. Given such an irresistible array of options—“So many jobs! / They’re all such fun”—the boy in the end decides, in an exuberant double gatefold, “I’m going to choose… / EVERY ONE!”—a conclusion befitting a generation expected to have more than six careers each. Without parents or peers around to corral this carefree child’s dreams, the possibilities of being whatever one wants appear both limitless and attainable. An inspired take on a timeless question. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: March 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-316-16226-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: April 14, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2010
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