A charmer about finding self-confidence and one’s place in a family.
A boy determines to add luster to his family name.
After moving into a new home, Chuck Whipplethorp learns his paternal forebears experienced exciting adventures—though, in the case of his dad, whom he believes “boring,” maybe not so much. He makes a list of his ancestors’ exploits—mountain climbing and deep-sea diving, for instance—and fancifully sets out to emulate them but has little luck, considering oceans and mountains aren’t in his neighborhood. Hunting for and collecting insect specimens, activities his grandfather enjoyed, seem more doable pursuits. Chuck finds a cool beetle, but killing it and other bugs is unpalatable, so he proceeds by gathering ones already deceased. Soon, Chuck, employing lots of ingenuity—and sundry household items—fashions a nifty, multilevel beetle house, which attracts a host of other (live) insects and dad’s accolades. This delightful story highlights a warm, comforting, realistic son-father relationship. The dynamic, wonderfully effective pen-and-watercolor illustrations present the protagonists as white as paper—even their clothing—against delicately colored backgrounds and are particularly accomplished at depicting Chuck’s imaginary adventures and scenes of nature. Insect fans will especially appreciate the spread featuring various colorful insects (scientific nomenclature included) and the 90-degree page turn that provides a glimpse into the very inventive interior of Chuck’s beetle condo. Endpapers buzz with lively details.
A charmer about finding self-confidence and one’s place in a family. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 11, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-316-53825-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2021
Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...
Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.
First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.
Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...
Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.
The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 21, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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