In a clever approach to the new-baby and sibling rivalry theme, Otis, the endearing canine from Dog Eared (2002), finds himself neglected, ignored, and forgotten when a new kitten joins the family and Lucy, his beloved owner, is occupied helping her little sister learn to take care of her new pet. Feeling unloved, Otis leaves home determined to have fun and misbehave as he rifles through garbage cans and chases after cats while colliding with shoppers and bystanders. Disenchanted with that sort of play, the good-hearted and sincere Otis arrives at the park, observes the actions of people and their pets alike, and thinking he isn’t being missed at home, begins to search out a new family. At the end of the day, however, when he is a guest at his friend Max’s house, Otis decides that he isn’t happy after all and runs home to be welcomed with open arms by Lucy. All is well as he is given undivided attention and reassured that he is “the greatest dog of all,” because he is Lucy’s best friend. Harvey has written a text that reflects honest concerns and thoughts through the humorous and subtly sarcastic voice of her character. Her watercolors in pale, pastel shades outlined in pen and ink gently evoke both the human and canine expressive faces, matching the mood and emotions demonstrated in the text. Otis looks justifiably upset, forlorn, and lonely, as well as relieved, happy, and content in the end. She also captures the small details of the story that are not told in the text, whether it be learning to take care of the new kitten or Otis’s humorous observations as in the French poodle and his owner’s similar hairdos. Wonderfully sympathetic and amusing. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: Jan. 14, 2003
ISBN: 0-385-74621-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2002
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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