Bedtime fun with a pair of unlikely friends.
“It’s time for bed, Lolo!”
With a sleeping cap on, Birdie is all tucked in, ready to sleep. Lolo the T. rex, however, has other plans. “No, gracias.” But why? Because Lolo is one busy dino—Lolo has plans to play, eat, and play some more. After having a quick reading session, playing, and chowing down on cookies, Lolo is still not quite ready for bed. The comical exchanges between Birdie and Lolo—dino speaking in Spanish, bird translating and responding in English—perfectly depict the challenges of getting a reluctant sleeper to bed. Progress, of course, comes in increments as the exasperated blue bird convinces the orange dino to at least do some teeth brushing in the bathroom. Time for bed now? Nope! Clad in pajamas, the dino jumps onto the bed to play some more while an exhausted Birdie dozes off. “Buenas noches, Birdie.” Full of bold lines and soft colors, Dominguez’s clean artwork proves an impeccable complement to these nighttime escapades. The author leverages short, dynamic sentences and gentle repetition rooted in Lolo’s defiant declarations and Birdie’s wearied subsequent translations, to delightful effect. Scattered references to Lolo and Birdie’s previous outing add a layer of giddy familiarity for fans of the pair.
Bedtime fun with a pair of unlikely friends. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9781250874993
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Sure to have little ones giggling.
Jacques is a hedgehog with a big secret: “I wear real, bona fide underwear.”
Our narrator received a mysterious package one day; an illustration shows a pair of underwear tied to a balloon with a note “from the Universe” floating down into Jacques’ burrow. Hedgehogs don’t wear underwear, however. Will Jacques be shunned? Jacques worries but comes to a decision: “I have to wear them. When I do I feel special.” Determined, Jacques, who’s been invited to a party, makes a dramatic entrance, with undies in hand. Jacques’ declaration (“I WEAR UNDERWEAR”) is met with remarks of dismay, before another hedgehog opens up about similar fears and shows off a pair of cowboy boots. More hedgehogs introduce themselves with their own confessions. The story ends with Jacques unveiling a painting of the underwear in a gallery filled with hedgehogs wearing all sorts of attire. Though the book is simple in plot, characters, and setting, it wins in its balance of bathroom humor, dramatic storytelling, and celebrations of individual expression. French words are peppered throughout, adding to the fun without detracting from the story for those unfamiliar with the language. The cartoonish illustrations brim with fun; Valdez relies heavily on geometric shapes (triangle noses for the hedgehogs; huge circles for their eyes). Details such as speech bubbles and recurring turtle and snake characters contribute to the outlandish humor.
Sure to have little ones giggling. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9781250814388
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
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