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UNDERCOVER

Name: UNDERCOVER
Author: Bastien Contraire
ISBN: 978-0-7148-7250-6

ONE OF THESE THINGS IS ALMOST LIKE THE OTHERS

by Bastien Contraire ; illustrated by Bastien Contraire ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 12, 2016

Slow down and look! (Picture book. 3-6)

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A picture-book invitation to look carefully and observe.

While some readers may be familiar with the Sesame Street song “One of these things is not like the others,” this French import’s subtitle first invites consideration of the similarities among objects before determining which one is “undercover.” The cover image showing a turtle among a group of hats highlights the limited color palette of brown, bright pink, and green against a white background. The forms are bold stenciled shapes and colors, and the turtle is about the same size as the hats. The turtle’s shell upon its body visually evokes the idea of a hat resting upon someone’s head, and yet it is a living creature, while the hats are articles of clothing. The solitary snail on the title page suggests a slowness that will reward careful looking. Ensuing juxtapositions depict similarities in form, size, color, and sometimes function or other times biological classification from one spread to the next, with, usually, four images in three straight rows on each double-page spread. One spread depicting structures may give some readers pause, as it includes such structures as a tepee, an office building, a factory with smokestacks, an igloo, and a simple cape-style house. These aren’t all dwellings, nor are they all permanent structures, and the “undercover” item is a confusingly indeterminate two-tiered object with a flame (or is it a cherry?) on top.

Slow down and look! (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-7148-7250-6

Page Count: 64

Publisher: Phaidon

Review Posted Online: July 25, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

- BOOK REVIEW
FOOD HIDE AND SNEAK
illustrated by Bastien Contraire

- BOOK REVIEW
VEHICLES HIDE AND SNEAK
by Bastien Contraire ; illustrated by Bastien Contraire

- BOOK REVIEW
ANIMALS HIDE AND SNEAK
written and illustrated by Bastien Contraire

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ONE FAMILY

by George Shannon ; illustrated by Blanca Gómez ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 26, 2015

A visually striking, engaging picture book that sends the message that everyone counts.

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A playful counting book also acts as a celebration of family and human diversity.

Shannon’s text is delivered in spare, rhythmic, lilting verse that begins with one and counts up to 10 as it presents different groupings of things and people in individual families, always emphasizing the unitary nature of each combination. “One is six. One line of laundry. One butterfly’s legs. One family.” Gomez’s richly colored pictures clarify and expand on all that the text lists: For “six,” a picture showing six members of a multigenerational family of color includes a line of laundry with six items hanging from it outside of their windows, as well as the painting of a six-legged butterfly that a child in the family is creating. While text never directs the art to depict diverse individuals and family constellations, Gomez does just this in her illustrations. Interracial families are included, as are depictions of men with their arms around each other, and a Sikh man wearing a turban. This inclusive spirit supports the text’s culminating assertion that “One is one and everyone. One earth. One world. One family.”

A visually striking, engaging picture book that sends the message that everyone counts. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: May 26, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-374-30003-6

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Frances Foster/Farrar, Straus & Giroux

Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2015

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
TURKEY TOT
by George Shannon ; illustrated by Jennifer K. Mann

- BOOK REVIEW
A VERY WITCHY SPELLING BEE
by George Shannon ; illustrated by Mark Fearing

- BOOK REVIEW
WHO PUT THE COOKIES IN THE COOKIE JAR?
by George Shannon ; illustrated by Julie Paschkis

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THE CRAYONS LOVE OUR PLANET

by Drew Daywalt ; illustrated by Oliver Jeffers ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 13, 2024

A droll exploration of color and nature—and a welcome reminder to safeguard our planet.

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Daywalt and Jeffers’ wildly popular Crayons have an important ecological message.

Though climate change is never mentioned, the book nevertheless gently introduces responsibility for Planet Earth. As in previous titles, the main text is in a large black font, while the Crayons’ dialogue is presented in a smaller, gray font. Blue begins by showing off a blue-tinged image of the globe (land masses are depicted in a darker hue). Green takes over: “Yay, Trees! I did those!” Beige breaks in, pointing to a tiny wheat plant next to two large trees: “And wheat! I did the WHEAT!” Beige puts wheat front and center throughout—even on White’s drawing of mountaintop ice caps. When Red, Yellow, and Orange display drawings of various fruits, Beige interjects, “And WHEAT. Wheat is totally fruit.” Diplomatic Purple politely responds, “Um. NO. It is not.” Purple attempts to dissuade self-important Beige, but it all ends happily as the Crayons join hands and proclaim: “Our planet has all of us too, in many shapes, colors, and sizes.” Beige and Purple reconcile, with Beige adding, “And it’s our job to keep the planet safe.” Young children will easily absorb this positive message. Although these characters have had many outings, their quiet humor still succeeds, and fans will definitely want this new entry.

A droll exploration of color and nature—and a welcome reminder to safeguard our planet. (Picture book. 3-5)