No toxic discourse here—Murguia’s rodents model what it means to agree to disagree.
Up with polka dots! Down with prairie dogs! Can’t Mouse and Squirrel agree on anything?
Drums or guitars? Why bother?—humming is obviously better. Mouse (clad in blue polka-dot trousers) loves a clear blue sky, but Squirrel (in a red knit cap) is partial to dark, gray clouds. Who cares if Mouse likes bikes—Squirrel knows that hiking’s the way to go. Tensions rise with each heated exchange of opinions until, faced with their irreconcilable differences, the two rodents march off in a huff. But wait—the frenemies realize, midstep, that being different needn’t be an impediment to friendship, and disagreement doesn’t have to be an inevitable deal breaker. Written as verse for two voices, the text presents Mouse’s upbeat questions and Squirrel’s grumpy rejoinders in an abcb rhyme scheme. The snappy meter, encapsulated in blue and salmon speech bubbles, perfectly reflects the growing frustration between the furry protagonists. Murguia’s gray-toned drawings against expanses of white negative space effectively focus readers’ attention on the silliness of the situation. She comically captures the gradual shift of the aggrieved rodents’ expressions as they transform from benign curiosity to mutual outrage. In this time of destructive divisiveness, Mouse and Squirrel’s journey toward respecting their differences is an important lesson for us all.
No toxic discourse here—Murguia’s rodents model what it means to agree to disagree. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5344-3880-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2020
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available.
A ghost learns to appreciate his differences.
The little ghost protagonist of this title is unusual. He’s a quilt, not a lightweight sheet like his parents and friends. He dislikes being different despite his mom’s reassurance that his ancestors also had unconventional appearances. Halloween makes the little ghost happy, though. He decides to watch trick-or-treaters by draping over a porch chair—but lands on a porch rail instead. A mom accompanying her daughter picks him up, wraps him around her chilly daughter, and brings him home with them! The family likes his looks and comforting warmth, and the little ghost immediately feels better about himself. As soon as he’s able to, he flies out through the chimney and muses happily that this adventure happened only due to his being a quilt. This odd but gently told story conveys the importance of self-respect and acceptance of one’s uniqueness. The delivery of this positive message has something of a heavy-handed feel and is rushed besides. It also isn’t entirely logical: The protagonist could have been a different type of covering; a blanket, for instance, might have enjoyed an identical experience. The soft, pleasing illustrations’ palette of tans, grays, white, black, some touches of color, and, occasionally, white text against black backgrounds suggest isolation, such as the ghost feels about himself. Most humans, including the trick-or-treating mom and daughter, have beige skin. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-16.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 66.2% of actual size.)
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7352-6447-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
A bit predictable but pleasantly illustrated.
Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault’s classic alphabet book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (1989) gets the Halloween treatment.
Chung follows the original formula to the letter. In alphabetical order, each letter climbs to the top of a tree. They are knocked back to the ground in a jumble before climbing up in sequence again. In homage to the spooky holiday theme, they scale a “creaky old tree,” and a ghostly jump scare causes the pileup. The chunky, colorful art is instantly recognizable. The charmingly costumed letters (“H swings a tail. / I wears a patch. J and K don / bows that don’t match”) are set against a dark backdrop, framed by pages with orange or purple borders. The spreads feature spiderwebs and jack-o’-lanterns. The familiar rhyme cadence is marred by the occasional clunky or awkward phrase; in particular, the adapted refrain of “Chicka chicka tricka treat” offers tongue-twisting fun, but it’s repeatedly followed by the disappointing half-rhyme “Everybody sneaka sneak.” Even this odd construction feels shoehorned into place, since “sneaking” makes little sense when every character in the book is climbing together. The final line of the book ends on a more satisfying note, with “Everybody—time to eat!”
A bit predictable but pleasantly illustrated. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: July 15, 2025
ISBN: 9781665954785
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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