An innovative and amusing story that will appeal to owners of guinea pigs, children with newly acquired glasses, and anyone...
A guinea pig named Philomena requires prescription eyeglasses, setting off a competition with her sisters in the acquisition of fashionable accessories.
Philomena, the eldest of a trio of guinea pig sisters, finds she can see clearly with her new purple glasses. Younger sisters Audrey and Nora Jane want to keep up in matters of style, so they acquire sunglasses of their own. When Philomena buys a silver handbag to store her glasses, her sisters follow suit, and then all three acquire dresses, which prove to be uncomfortable. The three sisters jointly decide they don’t all need to wear the same items, with Philomena retaining her glasses and Audrey keeping her handbag to store lettuce for snacks. In a pitch-perfect conclusion, all rivalry is resolved—“until Nora Jane got a necklace.” This clever story of sibling rivalry is succinctly related in just a few sentences that effectively capture the competitive nature of the sisterly bond, even among guinea pigs. Delightful photographic illustrations show real guinea pigs with all their tiny accessories, from pink sunglasses and tutus to a sparkling rhinestone necklace. The guinea pigs and text are set against clean, white backgrounds that make the accessories pop and the three guinea pigs stand out as distinct characters.
An innovative and amusing story that will appeal to owners of guinea pigs, children with newly acquired glasses, and anyone with a sister. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-42-528814-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: April 30, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2017
Warm but underdone.
In this picture book from actor Gyllenhaal and his partner, Caruso, a child and his uncle bond on a fantastic journey.
Leo, an avid dancer, is dismayed when Uncle Mo visits—he’s in town for a “rubber band convention.” Illustrations show both with wavy brown hair and light tan skin. Not only does Leo think his uncle is rather dull, he’s also leery of Uncle Mo’s many rules. A rather abrupt narrative shift occurs when the pair inexplicably drive into another dimension. Here they encounter Great-Aunt Gloria (who is very tall and presents Black) and Uncle Munkle Carbunkle (who is very short and light-skinned), who guide them through the Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles. Unimpressed with Uncle Mo, Great-Aunt Gloria says he must take a quiz on “Auntieology and Uncleology.” After several wrong answers, Uncle Mo has a final chance at redemption: He must state his nephew’s favorite activity. When Leo springs into action to dance for his clueless uncle, a mishap leaves him mortified and un-bespectacled. Enter Uncle Mo to save the day by using a rubber band to secure Leo’s glasses. While Santat’s energetic illustrations do much to clarify the narrative, they can’t fully make up for the disjointed storytelling—it’s never clear why the two have entered this dimension or why Leo is suddenly so eager to help Uncle Mo. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Warm but underdone. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781250776990
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
As the sleepy keeper bids him good night, Gorilla snitches his keys; then he creeps after him, letting the other animals out. In a lengthening parade that includes a mouse first seen taking one of Gorilla's bananas, they pad along behind the keeper like faithful dogs, enter his house, and curl up to snooze in his bedroom; Gorilla snuggles into bed next to the keeper's wife. The man is too drowsy to notice, but she does; taking Gorilla by the hand, she leads the whole parade back to the zoo with an air of resignation that suggests this has happened before. Gorilla certainly knows the ropes; he and the mouse (still toting the banana) follow her back, this time to settle in the middle of the bed. The amiable cartoon characters, vibrant palette, and affectionate tone of the author's art recall Thacher Hurd's cheerful illustrations. Delightful. (Picture book. 3-7)
Pub Date: April 13, 1994
ISBN: 0-399-22445-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1994
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