Adults and children alike perform their daily activities under vast and varied skies.
Why is the sky blue? This perennial question often asked by young children may be resolved (or at least dodged) as children learn that the sky is not always blue. It is “an ever-changing, always open, everyone welcome art gallery.” Alongside the tantalizing Plasticine art that Reid is known for, she asks, “How do you picture the sky?” And in a series of short sentences, she invites readers on a tour of the sky in all its iterations: at sunrise, when “It can be…the curtain rising on your day”; at sunset; on a sunny, cloudless day; peeking out between trees or the tall buildings of a cityscape where “it can slip into the background.” And on days of low-lying fog it “can play hide-and-seek.” Some see castles in the clouds, polar bears in the constellations, or figures dancing in the northern lights. “You may find a story in the sky.” Although the art is not as joyously unbridled as in her companion book on trees (Picture a Tree, 2013), colorful, multidimensional images depict diverse children (about half present white and half as children of color) as they take pleasure in the sky and realize that “there is more than one way to picture the sky.”
In this aesthetically pleasing homage, Reid obliges young readers to contemplate the sky in all its not-always-blue expansive magnificence. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: March 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-8075-9525-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Whitman
Review Posted Online: Dec. 22, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2019
Categories: CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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This reassuring picture book exemplifies how parents throughout the animal kingdom make homes for their offspring.
The narrative is written from the point of view of a parent talking to their child: “If you were a beaver, I would gnaw on trees with my teeth to build a cozy lodge for us to sleep in during the day.” Text appears in big, easy-to-read type, with the name of the creature in boldface. Additional facts about the animal appear in a smaller font, such as: “Beavers have transparent eyelids to help them see under water.” The gathering of land, air, and water animals includes a raven, a flying squirrel, and a sea lion. “Home” might be a nest, a den, or a burrow. One example, of a blue whale who has homes in the north and south (ocean is implied), will help children stretch the concept into feeling at home in the larger world. Illustrations of the habitats have an inviting luminosity. Mature and baby animals are realistically depicted, although facial features appear to have been somewhat softened, perhaps to appeal to young readers. The book ends with the comforting scene of a human parent and child silhouetted in the welcoming lights of the house they approach: “Wherever you may be, you will always have a home with me.”
Instills a sense of well-being in youngsters while encouraging them to explore the natural world. (Informational picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Nov. 12, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-63217-224-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Little Bigfoot/Sasquatch
Review Posted Online: July 28, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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It’s no fun for anyone when someone is left out!
Baby elephant Oliver has two very good friends: Lulu, an owlet, and Charlie, a bunny. Playing outside is something they love to do, but the happy trio runs into trouble while trying to climb trees, because Oliver just can’t manage due to his bulk. Warm, appealing watercolors defined with pen and ink and containing just the right amount of detail show the three friends as they patiently search for a tree that is perfect for all of them. Simple text describes their trial and error, as they find trees that are too small, too weak or too tall. “It’s hopeless!” wails Oliver. “Elephants just don’t belong in trees!” When Oliver, exhausted by their efforts, succumbs to sleep, Lulu and Charlie hatch a plan to solve the problem by using their own unique talents. Will they succeed and provide Oliver with a happy surprise? No doubt! Suffused with warmth and gentle humor, this deceptively simple story demonstrates the power of friendship, the importance of working together and problem-solving, while simultaneously introducing basic concepts (high/low, tall/short) in a pleasing, organic way. Young children will root for the three friends, enjoy the mild suspense and delight in the very satisfying ending.
As gentle and unassuming as Oliver, this story thoroughly charms. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: March 20, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-399-25700-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 11, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2014
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