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VIOLET AND THE MYSTERY NEXT DOOR

Name: VIOLET AND THE MYSTERY NEXT DOOR
Author: Allison Keeme

From the Violet series , Vol. 3

by Allison Keeme & illustrated by Allison Keeme & developed by My Black Dog Books ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 21, 2011

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A relatively small number of animations and interactive effects embellish an engaging, sometimes laugh-out-loud detective story. This third case for young sleuth Violet, aka “Phantom Girl,” and her trusty canine sidekick Phantom Dog sends the pair into the snow to check out new neighbor Maxwell—“MaxMan”—and then help him find a lost bottle-cap badge. As in previous episodes, each scene offers readers the option to read the text silently or, with a tap of a corner button, to hear it read by the author (who sounds about Violet’s age). For children fond of skipping around or going back to favorite pages, there is an index of thumbnail images that can be called up at any time by tapping another corner button. With further taps, items in the lively cartoon scenes that are outlined in yellow expand into clues or closer views. The background music is unobtrusive, but it can also be turned off at the beginning. As in previous outings, the tale gives readers three chances to make choices that create short loops in the plot. Here, though, readers can pause for a fast-paced video-game–style snowball fight and also for a comical game of touch-the-bird. These diversions, along with the occasional blink, wave or moveable toy, are so well placed that there seem to be more than there actually are. All enhance the overall air of high good humor. (iPad storybook app. 6-8)

Pub Date: Feb. 21, 2011

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: My Black Dog Books

Review Posted Online: March 13, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2011

- BOOK REVIEW
VIOLET AND THE CANDY THIEF
by Allison Keeme & illustrated by Allison Keeme & developed by My Black Dog Books

- BOOK REVIEW
WITCHEMINA
by Allison Keeme & illustrated by Allison Keeme & developed by My Black Dog Books

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HENRY AND MUDGE AND THE STARRY NIGHT

From the Henry and Mudge series

by Cynthia Rylant & illustrated by Sucie Stevenson ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1998

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Rylant (Henry and Mudge and the Sneaky Crackers, 1998, etc.) slips into a sentimental mode for this latest outing of the boy and his dog, as she sends Mudge and Henry and his parents off on a camping trip. Each character is attended to, each personality sketched in a few brief words: Henry's mother is the camping veteran with outdoor savvy; Henry's father doesn't know a tent stake from a marshmallow fork, but he's got a guitar for campfire entertainment; and the principals are their usual ready-for-fun selves. There are sappy moments, e.g., after an evening of star- gazing, Rylant sends the family off to bed with: ``Everyone slept safe and sound and there were no bears, no scares. Just the clean smell of trees . . . and wonderful green dreams.'' With its nice tempo, the story is as toasty as its campfire and swaddled in Stevenson's trusty artwork. (Fiction. 6-8)

Pub Date: April 1, 1998

ISBN: 0-689-81175-6

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1998

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
ROSETOWN FOREVER
by Cynthia Rylant

- BOOK REVIEW
A BOOK OF LOVES
by Cynthia Rylant ; illustrated by Cynthia Rylant

- BOOK REVIEW
HORNBEAM BY AND LARGE
by Cynthia Rylant ; illustrated by Arthur Howard

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BIG CHICKENS

by Leslie Helakoski & illustrated by Henry Cole ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 1, 2006

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With wordplay reminiscent of Margie Palatini at her best, Helakoski takes four timorous chickens into, then out of, the literal and figurative woods. Fleeing the henhouse after catching sight of a wolf, the pusillanimous pullets come to a deep ditch: “ ‘What if we can’t jump that far?’ ‘What if we fall in the ditch?’ ‘What if we get sucked into the mud?’ The chickens tutted, putted, and flutted. They butted into themselves and each other, until one by one . . . ” they do fall in. But then they pick themselves up and struggle out. Ensuing encounters with cows and a lake furnish similar responses and outcomes; ultimately they tumble into the wolf’s very cave, where they “picked, pecked, and pocked. They ruffled, puffled, and shuffled. They shrieked, squeaked, and freaked, until . . . ” their nemesis scampers away in panic. Fluttering about in pop-eyed terror, the portly, partly clothed hens make comical figures in Cole’s sunny cartoons (as does the flummoxed wolf)—but the genuine triumph in their final strut—“ ‘I am a big, brave chicken,’ said one chicken. ‘Ohh . . . ’ said the others. ‘Me too.’ ‘Me three.’ ‘Me four’ ”—brings this tribute to chicken power to a rousing close. (Picture book. 6-8)