First published in the Netherlands, this uncomplicated tale about friendship and the journey to self-acceptance now debuts in the US. “One day, Grey Mouse felt blue. She was bored and lonely. And she was tired of being grey,” reads the opening. Min (Peter’s Patchwork Dream, not reviewed, etc.) pictures the angular mouse with her head hanging low, tiny paws drawn to her temples. On the next page, she holds a bucket of red paint and a brush. “Maybe Goose will play with me now,” she says after painting her nose red to match the goose’s bill. Sadly, “goose just giggled.” Throughout, Min’s mixed-media illustrations set against the plain white page depict Grey Mouse trying on a variety of different colors and patterns. She paints herself green like “Frog,” red with polka dots to match the ladybugs, and striped like “Zebra.” Each time, the emulated animals appear in the corner mocking Mouse’s efforts. The only creatures that don’t cringe are the bees. Attracted to the flowers that she has decorated herself with, they chase Grey Mouse all the way to a pool of water into which she dives. Deep blue fills the interior spread as the flowers slip off and the muted mouse glides eyes-closed through the murky depths. When she reemerges she’s met with a surprise. “ ‘Hi,’ said a squeaky little voice.” In the final illustration, mice are popping up all over the place (“ ‘Hi,’ said another. ‘Hello,’ said another. And ‘Let’s play,’ said another.” Grey Mouse, unadorned, has finally found friends. An affirming read. (Picture book. 2-6)
Pub Date: April 1, 2002
ISBN: 1-886910-76-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2002
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Sadly, the storytelling runs aground.
A little red sleigh has big Christmas dreams.
Although the detailed, full-color art doesn’t anthropomorphize the protagonist (which readers will likely identify as a sled and not a sleigh), a close third-person text affords the object thoughts and feelings while assigning feminine pronouns. “She longed to become Santa’s big red sleigh,” reads an early line establishing the sleigh’s motivation to leave her Christmas-shop home for the North Pole. Other toys discourage her, but she perseveres despite creeping self-doubt. A train and truck help the sleigh along, and when she wishes she were big, fast, and powerful like them, they offer encouragement and counsel patience. When a storm descends after the sleigh strikes out on her own, an unnamed girl playing in the snow brings her to a group of children who all take turns riding the sleigh down a hill. When the girl brings her home, the sleigh is crestfallen she didn’t reach the North Pole. A convoluted happily-ever-after ending shows a note from Santa that thanks the sleigh for giving children joy and invites her to the North Pole next year. “At last she understood what she was meant to do. She would build her life up spreading joy, one child at a time.” Will she leave the girl’s house to be gifted to other children? Will she stay and somehow also reach ever more children? Readers will be left wondering. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 31.8% of actual size.)
Sadly, the storytelling runs aground. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-72822-355-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2020
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