A near miss.
Caretakers of invented animals need special instructions and great imagination.
As the text emphatically states (in gigantic print), this is not a simple handbook for the easy tasks of zookeepers or farmers but for the mashup of those two careers. The name given to this career indicates the pattern for the names of the created animals, which are combinations of wild animals and those found on a farm. Each of these unusual creatures is depicted in soft tones of gray, brown, blue, and green against a pale gray background on a double-page spread. The accompanying large-type text names it and gives a bit of helpful information about it. A “polar cow” eats strawberries, dances, and then proceeds to produce ice cream. It’s hard to see the glorious feathers of the “pigcock,” because they’re covered in mud. The “horsodile” can provide a very fast ride on land or underwater. Several of the critters are amusing and creative and will elicit giggles from young readers, but others might just cause puzzlement. The “girafooster” might not be recognized by either of its parts, and it is only the text that gives a clue to its identity. The “shiger” is a delightful creature, but the wooly stripes noted in the text are not readily evident in the illustration. It’s clever and often charming but uneven overall.
A near miss. (Picture book. 5-9)Pub Date: April 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5124-0424-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Andersen Press USA
Review Posted Online: Jan. 8, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
Sweet and spunky.
A young horse discovers the magical reason why she doesn’t fit in.
Sasha isn’t like the other horses in her herd. She loves running and craves adventure more than the others, especially her ladylike older sisters. She struggles in school with an “itchy feeling” of anticipation, which leaves her fidgety, unable to stay still or pay attention. As much as she tries to behave, she can’t fight her desire to run and jump—especially to jump. When the white patch on her back, the itching’s source, begins to sparkle, she goes to her parents for answers and gets more than she expected. Sasha was adopted; she joined their family as a newborn when, during a huge thunderstorm, a blast of sparkling rainbow lightning left Sasha behind with a letter asking her parents to take care of her. Wanting to know more, Sasha and her best friend go hiking at the mountain where her parents found her. Near the top of the mountain, an accidentally-too-enthusiastic jump launches Sasha off the mountain—whereupon she sprouts wings from her white patch and flies. Energetic readers will relate to Sasha’s manic, kinetic energy and envy her flight abilities. The sequel, Journey Beyond the Trees, releasing simultaneously, continues bold Sasha’s quest for answers as she travels in search of her kind. Gentle black-and-white art emphasizes the horses’ expressive eyes and manes.
Sweet and spunky. (Fantasy. 6-8)Pub Date: Jan. 3, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0390-7
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 18, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2016
A solid storytime and lap-read that will amuse with each repeated read.
Dynamic duo Donaldson and Scheffler (Superworm, 2014, etc.) are back with a tale full of high drama, medical emergencies, and dragon crash landings in this sequel to A Gold Star for Zog (2012).
In this outing, the pair reintroduces readers to the trio of traveling doctors: Gadabout the Great is an expert surgeon, Pearl has the distinction of being both a princess and a physician, and dragon Zog is a fire-breathing ambulance—albeit one that has some trouble with his landings. Flying from kingdom to kingdom and curing the maladies of the magical and nonmagical hoi polloi, the threesome passes Pearl’s uncle’s castle and decides to make a social call. Unfortunately, Pearl’s kingly uncle does not approve of a princess with outside employment. In a page turn, Pearl is transformed from medico to captive in a frilly dress, forced to embroider cushions and arrange flowers. As Gadabout and Zog try to save their friend, the king becomes ill with an unknown ailment. Teamwork saves the day (and cures the king of his misogynist attitude) thanks to Pearl’s medical research and Gadabout’s and Zog’s abilities to gather healing ingredients from past patients. Donaldson’s rhyme scheme is sharp, and fans will immediately recognize Scheffler’s distinctive style. Zog steals the show every time he quietly recovers from his bang-crash-thump landings in the background. The message is noble, but the lack of diversity—all the characters are white—tarnishes the crown.
A solid storytime and lap-read that will amuse with each repeated read. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-338-13417-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Levine/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017
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