With a series of questions and haiku-like answers, Guiberson (Ice Bears, 2008) introduces young readers and listeners to bears from a far-off place. “Who plucks raspberries / and plops red scat in the tangle? Blissful moon bear, / feasting on juicy summer fruit.” While much of her alliterative text focuses on the Asian Moon Bear’s varied diet, the narrative covers a year in which one bear emerges in spring, forages uphill and down and hibernates again, producing cubs. Collages of textured papers, parts of photographs and varied backgrounds form the stylized illustrations. Some of the bear’s white neck stripes form human silhouettes, and Young uses bear silhouettes in his endpapers. Though the art is impressive, some images are confusing, distracting from rather than supporting the text. A two-page author’s note doesn’t mention the bile industry directly but describes bears in cages and shows photographs of rescued bears happily playing at the Animals Asia Moon Bear Rescue Center in China. A website is included but not sources or additional information. Tempting but not nutritious. (Informational picture book. 4-7)
Pub Date: May 11, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-8050-8977-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Dec. 22, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2010
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Plenty of visual cues, lots of repetition and a clear story arc make this a perfect choice for beginning readers—and parents...
This cheery entry in the I Like to Read series successfully tells a simple tale and creates a sense of community using just 20 unique words.
Short, declarative sentences describe the action. Cat enters a house, climbs up three floors and finds a cozy room just big enough to make a perfect home. Colorful, cartoon-style illustrations help fill in the details. The eponymous hero is a round, yellow cat with a shy smile who starts out shivering on a cold and snowy sidewalk. Jumping into an open window, he lands in a snug cellar, where he meets a friendly rat who sends him up the stairs. The animals who live in the upper stories welcome Cat and offer gifts that reflect their interests. When “Cat [meets] Dog,” who sits in a cozy armchair surrounded by bookshelves, Cat leaves with a book tucked under his arm. Rabbit, an enthusiastic gardener, gives him a small potted plant, Bird offers a painting, and Elephant takes time out from playing the piano to provide a hot cup of tea. By the end, “Cat [is] happy,” and readers will be too.
Plenty of visual cues, lots of repetition and a clear story arc make this a perfect choice for beginning readers—and parents pressed for time will likely be happy to find such a short, sweet read-aloud. (Early reader.4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2659-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: June 11, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2013
This Easter message is that friends are golden.
Perennial favorite Bad Kitty returns in search of a prize.
Bad Kitty and her friends are going on an egg hunt, but besides the usual dyed eggs, a golden egg holding “the best thing ever” is waiting to be found. Bad Kitty imagines that it will offer a host of tangible goodies, picturing catnip, fish, treats, a ball of yarn, etc. Bad Kitty’s strategy is not clever: In quest of the gold, she passes up all the colored eggs, which are of course gathered by her friends Stinky Kitty, Chatty Kitty, Big Kitty, and Puppy. Soon those eggs are all gone, and the “golden” one she finally pounces on turns out to be the curved back of Puppy—in whose mouth she now sees the golden goal. Surprisingly, her friends are not eating candy from their eggs. When opened, each contains a friend-related challenge, like “write a story about your friend,” or “give a present to your friend.” It’s Puppy who gets that one and who, in response, gives Bad Kitty the golden egg. It turns out to have a special message inside from all her friends. Large, serif type will help developing readers. The illustrations are in the established goofy Bad Kitty cartoon style, with exaggerated facial expressions and frenetic, easy-to-read body language supporting the simple text. Easter means colored eggs only here: no mention of religion.
This Easter message is that friends are golden. (suggested friend challenges for Easter eggs) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Dec. 19, 2023
ISBN: 9781250884770
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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