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THE ANIMATED TALE OF BENJAMIN BUNNY

Name: THE ANIMATED TALE OF BENJAMIN BUNNY
Author: Beatrix Potter

written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter & developed by The Wundershop ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 11, 2012

Though not quite the equal of Loud Crow’s spectacular Beatrix Potter adaptations, this does give the tale a fresh...

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Benjamin leads his sick cousin Peter into another traumatic outing to Mr. McGregor’s garden in this cozy if not quite streamlined digital rendition of the 1904 classic.

Designed to look like an early print edition, in landscape orientation, each screen shows two antiqued “pages,” with text placed on the left and on the right, an elaborately animated version of the original illustration. In portrait mode, only the enlarged illustrations are visible, and the effect is even more movielike; the figures have even been lip-synced with the narration. Within layered settings that move independently to create a 3-D impression, Benjamin, a wilted-looking Peter, the cat that traps the two interlopers under a basket for five hours and Benjamin’s pipe-smoking, switch-wielding father move from multiple joints like expertly manipulated marionettes. There are no sound effects, but a piano chimes in the background as an expressive narrator (optionally) reads, and there is a self-record option too. At four points, the story pauses distractingly to offer readers a jigsaw puzzle, and for all the sophisticated design within the art, the page turns are stiff and jerky.

Though not quite the equal of Loud Crow’s spectacular Beatrix Potter adaptations, this does give the tale a fresh reboot—respectful enough to retain the full text with its corporal punishment and smoking references. (iPad storybook app. 5-8)

Pub Date: Aug. 11, 2012

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: The Wundershop

Review Posted Online: Sept. 11, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2012

- BOOK REVIEW
THE TALE OF KITTY-IN-BOOTS
by Beatrix Potter ; illustrated by Quentin Blake

- BOOK REVIEW
THE ORIGINAL TALE OF PETER RABBIT
by Beatrix Potter & illustrated by Beatrix Potter & developed by Penguin Group USA

- BOOK REVIEW
THE STORY OF MISS MOPPET
by Beatrix Potter & illustrated by Beatrix Potter & developed by Squeaky Oak

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JOE LOUIS, MY CHAMPION

by William Miller & illustrated by Rodney Pate ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2004

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One of the watershed moments in African-American history—the defeat of James Braddock at the hands of Joe Louis—is here given an earnest picture-book treatment. Despite his lack of athletic ability, Sammy wants desperately to be a great boxer, like his hero, getting boxing lessons from his friend Ernie in exchange for help with schoolwork. However hard he tries, though, Sammy just can’t box, and his father comforts him, reminding him that he doesn’t need to box: Joe Louis has shown him that he “can be the champion at anything [he] want[s].” The high point of this offering is the big fight itself, everyone crowded around the radio in Mister Jake’s general store, the imagined fight scenes played out in soft-edged sepia frames. The main story, however, is so bent on providing Sammy and the reader with object lessons that all subtlety is lost, as Mister Jake, Sammy’s father, and even Ernie hammer home the message. Both text and oil-on-canvas-paper illustrations go for the obvious angle, making the effort as a whole worthy, but just a little too heavy-handed. (Picture book. 5-8)

Pub Date: May 1, 2004

ISBN: 1-58430-161-9

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Lee & Low Books

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2004

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

- BOOK REVIEW
RENT PARTY JAZZ
by William Miller & illustrated by Charlotte Riley-Webb

- BOOK REVIEW
TITUBA
by William Miller & illustrated by Leonard Jenkins

- BOOK REVIEW
THE PIANO
by William Miller & illustrated by Susan Keeter

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DIARY OF A SPIDER

by Doreen Cronin & illustrated by Harry Bliss ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 2005

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The wriggly narrator of Diary of a Worm (2003) puts in occasional appearances, but it’s his arachnid buddy who takes center stage here, with terse, tongue-in-cheek comments on his likes (his close friend Fly, Charlotte’s Web), his dislikes (vacuums, people with big feet), nervous encounters with a huge Daddy Longlegs, his extended family—which includes a Grandpa more than willing to share hard-won wisdom (The secret to a long, happy life: “Never fall asleep in a shoe.”)—and mishaps both at spider school and on the human playground. Bliss endows his garden-dwellers with faces and the odd hat or other accessory, and creates cozy webs or burrows colorfully decorated with corks, scraps, plastic toys and other human detritus. Spider closes with the notion that we could all get along, “just like me and Fly,” if we but got to know one another. Once again, brilliantly hilarious. (Picture book. 6-8)