An unusual, robustly Antipodean cast of animal characters makes this whimsical, charming story stand out
A little platypus finds himself stranded far from his own kind, but with the help of friends, he travels back to Australia, where he is united with his parents.
The stork delivers a large egg on the opening endpapers of this whimsical story, the egg hatching on a farm next to a pig (“EEE!”) and a cow (“MOO!”). The baby platypus names himself Eee-Moo, and the farm animals send him on his way to Australia to find other emus. The resourceful creature uses several kinds of transportation to return to Australia, where a kangaroo, a kookaburra, some actual emus, and a koala help him find his family. Eee-Moo invites all the animals that helped him to visit, and they all ride off into the sunset on a bicycle built for eight. The closing endpapers offer an intriguing, wordless conclusion as Eee-Moo, holding another egg, flies toward a new adventure on the back of the stork. The clever plot has a fairy-tale flavor, with talking animal characters and Eee-Moo’s travels that transcend logical rules of time and space. Digitally composed illustrations have the appearance of delicate watercolor paintings with ink outlines. The clothed, anthropomorphic animals all appear to be male except for a hen and Eee-Moo’s mother.
An unusual, robustly Antipodean cast of animal characters makes this whimsical, charming story stand out . (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 24, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5344-0174-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 21, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2019
A cozy story that will transport readers to faraway places.
All gifts are perfect when they come from the heart.
Rabbit goes on a “journey through a green and grand forest” in order to get a gift for his nana even though it is “not even a major hare holiday.” He travels very far in search of the perfect gift and encounters many new friends whom he asks for help. Each of them proffers Rabbit something they can easily make or acquire: The moon offers a “crescent smile,” a whale proposes a glass of water, and so on. Ultimately, Rabbit finds the perfect gift for Nana all on his own, and his nana absolutely adores it. Although the story is a bit predictable, it is amusing—readers will laugh at the anthropomorphic volcano’s explosion and Rabbit’s exhaustion from his journey, among other chucklesome scenes. Smith’s gesso, oil, and cold wax illustrations are exquisite and almost ethereal. The friendly, many-eyed creature referred to as a “stickler” is at once haunting and intriguing. The moon is Tim Burton–esque and seems to glow and pop off the page. Pleased with his choice of gift, Rabbit has the moon’s smile on his face. The predominance of full-bleed double-page spreads accentuates Rabbit’s long quest. The different font sizes, styles, and colors will aid emerging readers with diction when reading aloud but might prove difficult for those with dyslexia. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A cozy story that will transport readers to faraway places. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 12, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-43033-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House Studio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2022
An exuberant dog’s-eye view of friendship and forgiveness.
An energetic puppy narrates a day with her boy.
In the morning, she licks the face of her “best friend,” a boy with light brown skin who uses a manual wheelchair, “glad that [they’re] a pair.” In quick, rhythmic rhymes, she bounds along—chasing a cat, stealing a Frisbee, snatching a hot dog from disgruntled pigeons, and scaring a snake—to the titular refrain: “Best day ever!” But the tune changes when she rolls on a “nice dead fish.” “Down, girl! You get off me! / Phewy, what’s that smell?” yells her boy as she gazes up with heart-meltingly mournful eyes. “Not the best day ever,” she laments as she endures a sudsy bath. And when she accidentally knocks over a lamp, her boy’s exasperation is finally too much: “Worst day ever.” Soon, however, the boy comforts the dejected pup, apologizing for shouting: “I know it wasn’t cool. / I think we need more lessons. / We’ll go to training school.” The friendship restored, a huge, jubilant “Best day ever!” arcs across a sunset-tinged double-page spread, the exclamation point finished off with a tennis ball the narrator has leapt to catch. Illustrator Nixon, herself a wheelchair user, captures the bond between boy and dog with bold lines, bright, sun-laced colors, and endearing expressions, tenderly demonstrating that love is unconditional—a message that will reassure readers as well as their furry friends. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An exuberant dog’s-eye view of friendship and forgiveness. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: June 29, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-328-98783-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2021
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