Needs better writing and a little more nerve to stand with like-premised outings.
A scientist couple decides to make a monster.
Being scientists, in lab coats and all, the two skip the usual method and go the chem-lab route—with the result that, between one page and the next, they have a green, spiky new family member. They then discover that making it was the easy part, since, no surprise, sleepless nights ensue as the little monster proceeds to howl, foul her diapers, and turn meals into messes. And what’s her first word? Barker renders it in her cartoon illustrations as an outsized “$#@*!!” and Pfeiffer skirts the issue with an ungainly rhyme: “Soon the monster began to speak words, / but the first one she said was crude and absurd.” Happily, her next words are “MAMA!” and “DAD!” which makes her parents “feel rad” and propose creating another “monster”…the customary way, perhaps, as a final bedroom scene hints. Though not the first, nor probably dozenth, picture book using the “monster baby” conceit, the point of view is more commonly a sibling’s rather than parental, and even though the diaper-clad creature doesn’t ever look human, younger viewers will easily see through the disguise. The scientist couple is interracial, with a Black-presenting dad and White-presenting mom. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9.1-by-22.4-inch double-page spreads viewed at 66% of actual size.)
Needs better writing and a little more nerve to stand with like-premised outings. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Nov. 10, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-936669-91-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: blue manatee press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 24, 2020
A read worth waiting for.
Two children find themselves on a time-traveling adventure while they wait for Grandpa’s cookies to come out of the oven.
When Kat and Ari build a time machine, they set it for “the future, to just after the cookies [are] finished baking.” But they end up bouncing through time—to that evening, when the cookies have already been eaten, then back to their very first time baking with Grandpa as young tots. Then they find themselves in the very distant future. Through this journey, Kat and Ari realize that waiting’s much easier when you lean into enjoying the passage of time together. Soft pastel colors convey this message deftly. Speeding through time, the children fly past an ombre rainbow. A wash of blue instantly indicates a nighttime scene lit by the light of Grandpa’s front porch. The far-off future includes plenty for readers to take in: a house with legs, a dragon-inspired airplane, and special tubes through which townspeople float through in place of streets. Effective use of panels moves the narrative along and gives it a graphic novel–esque feel. This playful story examines a child’s natural impatience while showcasing how very rewarding and special waiting can be. Grandpa has light brown skin, while Kat has tan skin; Ari presents Black.
A read worth waiting for. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2024
ISBN: 9781665936743
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2024
A playful, funny, and heartfelt tale to soothe the back-to-school blues.
A young lycanthrope frets about the first night of school.
It’s time for Sophie to head off to howlergarten for her first full moon—but what if she fails to transform into a werewolf like her parents? She worries about being away from her parents, too, but she meets new friends, participates in werewolf training (which entails tracking scents, moving like a wolf, and listening “to the whispers of the wind”), and survives her first full moon. Warm and empathetic Sophie even offers reassurance to a classmate who doesn’t transform. Shum’s story is a sweetly encouraging and appealing take on the perennial topic of first-day-of-school jitters. Though the book features werewolves, Sophie is relatable, her concerns—separation anxiety, fears that she won’t fit in or do well at school—likely to resonate with many youngsters. The illustrations alternate between full- and half-page spreads and vignettes; the use of panels on one page gives the book the feel of comics. Though the main characters are werewolves, they’re nevertheless an endearing bunch, sweet and furry, with oversized round heads and sturdy bodies. One adorable scene shows Sophie and the other children at howlergarten snoozing, curled up like pups rather than kids. Sophie’s mom has dark brown skin, while Sophie and her father are tan-skinned. The howlergarten students are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A playful, funny, and heartfelt tale to soothe the back-to-school blues. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 8, 2023
ISBN: 9780593521274
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2023
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