Overall, a fun, energetic read.
A young frog who loves to jump embarks on prosaic adventures, undertakes a heroic journey, and celebrates homecoming in this episodic outing.
In this quaintly illustrated chapter book featuring talking animals, Bibbit and friends are exuberant in their outdoor play. They build a frog pyramid, enjoy a picnic, and celebrate Little Rabbit’s birthday. Hopping from scene to scene, the story occurs in somewhat haphazard order. Readers discover Bibbit’s main obstacle (he has forgotten how to swim and wants to learn again); his outstanding talent and passion (jumping, which he practices physically and philosophically); character traits including ingenuity (seen in banana picking) and perseverance (seen in finishing a bad-tasting apple). Bibbit’s younger sister, Little Frog, is his ally, prompting him to adopt new perspectives and to confront his fears, leading him into the city via a river and on to new heights. Though faithful in preserving the original work’s episodic structure along with most of its content, this English translation does not do so with the quirky, humorous chapter titles that uniformly mention “The Day.…” As it is, the narrative logic is a little fuzzy, including how space and time operate in this story world: Consider the English “No Jumping” versus the Chinese “The Day With No Jumping at All.” If the thematic thread is somewhat lost in textual translation, the original illustrations capture the story’s spirit.
Overall, a fun, energetic read. (Fantasy. 6-9)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-776572-77-9
Page Count: 78
Publisher: Gecko Press
Review Posted Online: June 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
After a promising start, this autumnal offering ultimately disappoints.
Change is on the horizon for a trio of leaves at home in the branches of various trees in a park.
When the air grows chilly, Birch, Oak, and Maple all experience different emotions. Birch is optimistic and expectant, Oak is cautious and reluctant, and obstinate Maple feels left out as the other leaves change colors but she doesn’t. Illustrations rendered in acrylic gouache, colored pencil, and collage depict endearingly anthropomorphized leaves, with autumnal colors that pop. As the leaves learn more about fall from a pair of knowledgeable squirrels, Maple’s slow change to red is overshadowed by her impatience to join her friends. It’s only when she pulls herself free that she learns about the downside of fall—namely, the bottoms of boots, rain gutters, and rakes. Much like the shift from the bright crisp early days of autumn to the damp cold ones later in the season, it’s here that the story changes, going from a surprisingly nuanced examination of growth to something fluffy and less interesting. A young girl with straight black hair and tan skin finds the fallen leaves and takes them home, where she draws them as anthropomorphic characters, and all discussion of the importance of change is lost. Caregivers looking for a springboard to a discussion about growing up and the uncertainty of change may find this useful, but its sputtering ending detracts from its early momentum. Maybe next year will bring a more promising crop of leaves. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
After a promising start, this autumnal offering ultimately disappoints. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-358-41945-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An approachable explanation of tenacity, friendship, and hope.
Soren is determined to revamp the song of his fellow humpback whales.
Finding the music of the older male whales “outrageously boring,” Soren opts for something catchy, with sounds reminiscent of maracas. Eager to share his new music, Soren performs for his friends, and Hans offers his opinion: That was the worst song ever. After many more revisions (seven iterations altogether), Soren lands on one that becomes a hit under the sea. Eggers tackles important themes—the challenges of the creative process, which entails unavoidable laboring, and the necessity of trustworthy friends willing to give honest feedback. Thanks to Soren’s dogged persistence and Eggers’ tongue-in-cheek humor, these complex concepts become accessible for young readers. Hoffmann’s illustrations depict the widely smiling whales with expressive faces and accessories, like Hans’ red deerstalker hat. The sea creatures have personality, and the underwater world is filled with movement and energy. It helps that Soren is a likable character, but the repeated back-and-forth of the seven versions of the song starts to get tedious, making the book a lengthy read. That said, inspiration finally strikes when Soren learns to look outside his cave at the beauty around him—a lovely point well made. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An approachable explanation of tenacity, friendship, and hope. (Picture book. 6-9)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781951836733
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Cameron Kids
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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