Poor science and poor storytelling make for a poor combination.
Porcupine’s picnic grows ever larger as new animals arrive with their own food choices until an unexpected guest alters the camaraderie.
Eager to share his basket full of clover, Porcupine learns that each of his friends has a preference. Koala likes eucalyptus leaves. Squirrel sticks with acorns. Giraffe snacks on tree leaves, Goat enjoys alfalfa, and Elephant chews on tree bark. The gathering grows with a dizzying assortment of herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores: Chicken, Panda, Reindeer, Zebra, Baboon, Anteater, Black Bear, Bald Eagle, Toad, and Weasel all politely ask to join and provide a sampling of their food selections. Digital art depicts an amiable atmosphere, its characters appearing flat and unnaturally sweet. None of the meat-eating animals seem at all tempted by their companions until Tiger appears, declaring his dinner choice (everyone) and causing the rest to scatter in all directions. The repetitious, sometimes-tedious text diligently samples a worldwide list of animals from all three eating groups, as outlined in the author’s note. The simplistic story cannot, of course, accurately represent the specificity of most of these animals’ diets, and the fact that their habitats vary wildly is elided.
Poor science and poor storytelling make for a poor combination. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4677-9519-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Millbrook/Lerner
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This peculiar import, an award-winner in Holland, may struggle to find an appreciative audience stateside. It’s possible that something was lost in translation—or perhaps cultural norms and values differ. The plot is clear and believable if not particularly engaging. An elderly couple are happy together. The husband dies. The wife is lonely. A pet provides comfort. Present-tense declarative sentences convey the action effectively but have an abrupt tone that some young listeners may find disconcerting. “One day John falls over. His heart stops beating.” Jitta’s illustrations likewise lack conventional child appeal. Created on a background of graph paper, they include collage, ink and paint. Figures are simply, sometimes awkwardly, drawn, and backgrounds are generally unpopulated. Movement is implied, and some gentle visual humor is included, but unfortunately the overall effect is disorienting. Unlike the winsome Tim (the cat Lola selects from the titular website to keep her company and cheer her days), this odd tale is unlikely to be chosen and enjoyed by casual browsers. For parents seeking to explain changes in a grandparent’s behavior after being widowed, however, it may be helpful. (Picture book. 5-8)
Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-84780-139-5
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Review Posted Online: Dec. 25, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2010
A celebration of all things feline, this frisky, rib-tickling picture book unveils the secret life of cats. In jaunty rhyming couplets, the author spins a tale about the elderly Mrs. Brown, who lives in a house full of cats—60 of them to be exact. Like all tabbies, Mrs. Brown’s darlings laze the days away, snoozing in every manner and every corner. From sunup to sundown, Mrs. Brown is surrounded by dormant felines. Yet when she retires for the evening, the languid cats spring to life. “As soon as she began to snore / The fun began with cats galore / Cats in the entryway throwing confetti / Cats in the dining room eating spaghetti.” While Mrs. Brown peacefully dozes, her cats have a boisterous bash. Kids and catlovers alike will be tickled pink by Newman’s comical depiction of the cats disporting themselves in a very human manner: knitting, writing, cooking, and even dancing. Oller’s watercolors, ranging in size from full-bleed to smaller vignettes delightfully inserted within the text, compliment the tale, reflecting the essence of cathood. Amorphously drawn creatures colored in a palette of soft hues lie prostrate upon every surface, conveying the unique boneless quality of slumbering felines. The upbeat tempo of the rhymes and the humor are infectious, and even those usually uninspired by felines will be hard-pressed to resist Newman’s convivial bunch. A whimsical tale perfect for cat fanciers young and old. (Picture book. 5-8)
Pub Date: March 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-689-83077-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2001
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