In the end, this is a simple friendship story with pictures that will likely grab attention but won’t stand up well to...
Two very different friends have a bit of trouble deciding what to do together in this simple story about finding common ground.
Rex wants to play with robots. Rosie wants to play “princess ballerina tea party,” repeatedly declaring that “robots are not fun” as Rex entreats her to join in all things robotic. When they find a mysterious discarded object and try to figure out what it is, Rex offers many robot-related possibilities. Rosie becomes disconsolate upon discovering that it is the nose of a giant, jovial, animate robot. Then, much to her delight, the robot suggests that the trio have a “PRINCESS BALLERINA ROBOT TEA PARTY!” This punch line comes a few pages before the conclusion, leading to something of an anticlimax that may leave readers wishing it had ended with the threesome at tea. Minimal background detail and tidy speech balloons present an uncluttered design, and Boyle’s background in television animation is apparent throughout the colorful, digitally illustrated story. Rosie, Rex and the robot even bear stylistic resemblances to the characters populating his Emmy-winning television series, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! But despite this common ground, the final product doesn’t have much of a wow factor.
In the end, this is a simple friendship story with pictures that will likely grab attention but won’t stand up well to multiple readings. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-06-221131-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say.
A dog-loving child encourages a less-than-enthusiastic younger one to imagine they’re both canines.
From the first declaration—“I’d be a big dog! And you’d be a little one!”—readers know who’s calling the shots. Initially, the protagonists cavort off the page and through the neighborhood together, performing doggy capers such as tail wagging, stick carrying, and dirt digging. But by the time they encounter a multitude of like-minded creatures at the dog park, the disgruntled small pup is exhibiting out-and-out rebellion: “Being a dog is YOUR idea! Sometimes I HAVE IDEAS TOO!” The narrative wraps up with the younger child pretending to be a different animal entirely—cleverly foreshadowed through subtle details in the illustrations. Even the endpapers—lively silhouettes of dogs in the beginning and many different animals in closing—extend the theme to suggest the imaginative possibilities of pretend play. Cheerful, lightly hued colors fit the whimsical mood, while expressive body language allows the art to tell the story with a minimum of words. Ending on a surprising note, with a sweet compromise between the two main characters, the tale gives both kids the freedom to embrace their own preferences and styles—while still enjoying their game.
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9780316581721
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
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