by Annie Besant ; illustrated by Ruchi Mhasane ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 12, 2014
An amusing complement to any illustrated version of the Lear poem.
Is whimsy a fancy? A caprice? A vagary? A suddenly impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action, as a dictionary might define it?
Ms. Fox in purple skirts with two yellow parasols and Mr. Prat, an unlikely mixture of pig and rat, vie with each other as they enact their definitions of “whimsy.” Preposterous ideas abound. Ms.Fox asserts that “whimsy is when I wear a cat for a hat and feed it custard and cream with a silver spoon.” Mr. Prat disagrees: “Sweet Ms. Fox, whimsy is when I wear pink pantaloons and ride a unicycle with my dog Blue.” At one point, Ms. Fox asks Mr. Prat to dance with her “forever by the light of the moon.” Who should be gliding by in a boat in the accompanying double-page spread, but those two well-known characters of comic poetry, the Owl and the Pussy-cat. As their famous forebears did in Lear’s poem, the amusing duo marry and produce an heir with the best qualities of both whimsical creatures. Watercolors in pastel and deeper-toned hues depict the playful creatures and their other friends as they cavort through these pages.
An amusing complement to any illustrated version of the Lear poem. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 12, 2014
ISBN: 978-8-181-90305-1
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Karadi Tales
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2014
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by Annie Besant ; illustrated by Rayika Sen
by Helen Ketteman ; illustrated by Nate Wragg ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 12, 2014
A good choice to share with wriggly listeners, who will soon be joining in.
A Halloween book that rides on the rhythms of “Over in the Meadow.”
Although Halloween rhyming counting books abound, this stands out, with a text that begs to be read aloud and cartoony digital illustrations that add goofy appeal. A girl and two boys set off on Halloween night to go trick-or-treating. As the children leave the cozy, warm glow of their street, readers see a haunted house on a hill, with gravestones dotting the front yard. Climbing the twisty path to the dark estate takes time, so the story turns to the antics inside the house. “At the old haunted house in a room with no sun / lived a warty green witch and her wee witch one. ‘SPELL!’ cried the witch. ‘POOF!’ cried the one. / And they both practiced spells in the room with no sun.” The actions of the scary creatures within may seem odd, but the rhyme must go on: Cats scratch, goblins dust, monsters stir, and mummies mix. Eventually the three kids reach the front door and are invited in for stew, cake and brew. At first shocked by the gruesome fare, the children recover quickly and get caught up in partying with the slightly spooky but friendly menagerie.
A good choice to share with wriggly listeners, who will soon be joining in. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 12, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4778-4769-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Two Lions
Review Posted Online: July 15, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2014
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by Helen Ketteman ; illustrated by Bonnie Leick
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by Helen Ketteman ; illustrated by Will Terry
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by Helen Ketteman & illustrated by Will Terry
by Tony DiTerlizzi ; illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 18, 2018
A delightful if somewhat disjointed story of “Christmas magic” working its charms on a family.
Jack needs some magic to help make this year’s Christmas the best ever.
Shiny, red-foil borders and embossed lettering on the cover invite readers into a suburban household of the mid-20th century. On Christmas Eve, Jack is dissatisfied with the decorating job that he and his parents have done. He finds one last ornament, but his mother says in alarm, “Not that one!” Jack accidentally breaks it, leaving his mother in tears. A tiny fairy called Tinsel appears with tinkly bells to help Jack fulfill his wish. Saying, “let’s deck these halls!” Tinsel tosses glitter, and a large tree bursts through the floor. Caroling elves burst through the door, followed by reindeer, nutcrackers, and snowmen. Double-page–spread illustrations show the house filled with holiday fun. (Children will wonder why Jack’s parents don’t seem to notice it, though.) Jack can’t get enough of the magic, but remembering the broken ornament, he asks Tinsel for help. She can’t give him a new ornament but does offer him a glimpse of his mother’s past that helps Jack understand his mother’s heartbreak and see a way to make amends. Slightly overlong landscape design, old-fashioned furnishings, and endpapers filled with ornaments give this a feeling of personal reminiscence. Jack, his parents, Tinsel, and two of the elves present white, but the third elf has brown skin.
A delightful if somewhat disjointed story of “Christmas magic” working its charms on a family. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4169-3976-4
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
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by Angela DiTerlizzi ; illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi
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by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi
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