Duck really wants to try out the new playground slide, but Cat keeps creating new ways to stop her.
Two simple statements on the verso of this book’s first spread set up the premise that Duck and Cat are close friends on their way to the playground to slide. Another full-page spread depicts a delightful, stylized playground populated by anthropomorphic animals, with bright-yellow, pink-ribboned Duck leading wide-eyed Cat across the foreground. But something is different today. Their usual slide has been replaced with a newer, bigger, curvier one. Expressive art with cleverly inserted dialogue shows how the new slide produces wildly different emotions in the friends: excitement in Duck, high anxiety in Cat. And with each page turn, Cat finds a way to postpone Duck’s trip down the slide. Little ones will giggle and nod knowingly as the unseen narrator continues to inform us that Cat is doing all this from friendship; the art and dialogue clearly show otherwise. Duck willingly submits to every ridiculous excuse—even donning goggles and a helmet—until Cat finally convinces her not to go down the slide. Will Cat learn a lesson about true friendship? Spoiler alert: of course, and brilliantly. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Both extremely funny and spot-on sensitive. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 13, 2023
ISBN: 9781665911511
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: March 14, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2023
Categories: CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES
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Bear finds a wonderful toy.
Bear clearly loves the toy bunny that he has found sitting up against a tree in the forest, but he wants to help it return to its home. With a wagon full of fliers and the bunny secure in Bear’s backpack, he festoons the trees with posters and checks out a bulletin board filled with lost and found objects (some of which will bring a chuckle to adult readers). Alas, he returns home still worried about bunny. The following day, they happily play together and ride Bear’s tricycle. Into the cozy little picture steps Moose, who immediately recognizes his bunny, named Floppy. Bear has a tear in his eye as he watches Moose and Floppy hug. But Moose, wearing a tie, is clearly grown and knows that it is time to share and that Bear will take very good care of his Floppy. Yoon’s story is sweet without being sentimental. She uses digitized artwork in saturated colors to create a lovely little world for her animals. They are outlined in strong black lines and stand out against the yellows, blues, greens and oranges of the background. She also uses space to great effect, allowing readers to feel the emotional tug of the story.
A winning tale about finding new friends. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-8027-3559-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Feb. 19, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2014
Categories: CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES
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A clueless duckling tries to make a new friend.
He is confused by this peculiar-looking duck, who has a long tail, doesn’t waddle and likes to be alone. No matter how explicitly the creature denies he is a duck and announces that he is a cat, the duckling refuses to acknowledge the facts. When this creature expresses complete lack of interest in playing puddle stomp, the little ducking goes off and plays on his own. But the cat is not without remorse for rejecting an offered friendship. Of course it all ends happily, with the two new friends enjoying each other’s company. Bramsen employs brief sentences and the simplest of rhymes to tell this slight tale. The two heroes are meticulously drawn with endearing, expressive faces and body language, and their feathers and fur appear textured and touchable. Even the detailed tree bark and grass seem three-dimensional. There are single- and double-page spreads, panels surrounded by white space and circular and oval frames, all in a variety of eye-pleasing juxtapositions. While the initial appeal is solidly visual, young readers will get the gentle message that friendship is not something to take for granted but is to be embraced with open arms—or paws and webbed feet.
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-375-86990-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 14, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2012
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES
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