This band of merry swashclucklers shows that a sense of curiosity and willingness to learn can give you the tools you need...
Big dreams and an even bigger ship turn a sweet intellectual chicken into the dread pirate Redfoot.
On the farm, Lily is the hen that looks to the stars and wants more than a mere barnyard can provide. So when a rowdy band of buccaneers shows up to steal the poultry, she gleefully jumps onboard. With little effort the chickens commandeer the ship one night while the pirates are all ashore, and Lily takes on the name of Redfoot and the demeanor of a tyrant. Now mutiny is in the air, and if Lily’s going to remain more than shark bait, she’ll need to remember what’s important in life and why she should value her crew. The book is chipper from fore to aft—the gleeful amorality of chickens aiming to plunder and steal is amusing and in keeping with the tone of the book. However, the cartoonish art with bright, peppy images means that, even at their most ferocious, the chickens never really look more than mildly peeved. Though there is little about this chicken/pirate hybrid to distinguish it from others in the overstuffed piratical picture-book flock, it remains an engaging enough romp.
This band of merry swashclucklers shows that a sense of curiosity and willingness to learn can give you the tools you need to conquer any situation. Even mutiny. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6520-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Nov. 11, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2018
An action-packed romp.
Superheroes deal with their emotions.
What happens when the empowered have a terrible day? Becker posits that while they could go on destructive sprees and wreak havoc, the caped crusaders and men and women of steel harness their energies and direct it in constructive ways. Little readers filled with energy and emotion may learn to draw similar conclusions, but the author doesn’t hammer home the message. The author has much more fun staging scenes of chaos and action, and Kaban clearly has a ball illustrating them. Superheroes could use laser vision to burn down forests and weather powers to freeze beachgoers. They could ignore crime sprees and toss vehicles across state lines. These hypothetical violent spectacles are softened by the cartoonish stylizations and juxtaposed with pages filled with heroic, “true” efforts such as rounding up criminals and providing fun at an amusement park. The illustrations are energetic and feature multicultural heroes. The vigorous illustrations make this a read for older children, as the busyness could overwhelm very little ones. While the book’s formula recalls How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? and its many sequels, the relative scarcity of superhero picture books means there’s a place on the shelf for it.
An action-packed romp. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4549-1394-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sterling
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A cozy friendship story is always welcome; the animals and balloons here add to the fun.
Penelope Elephant adores her 10 red balloons, which go everywhere she goes.
Penelope’s very protective of her treasured balloons: She sits far away from best pal Piper the porcupine on the school bus, and at recess, she avoids a sharp-toothed crocodilian friend. One day after school, Penelope rushes home when a sudden storm develops. Though she tries to hold tight to her treasures in the face of heavy winds, eventually she lets go. She sits alone in the forest, brokenhearted. Supportive Piper appears with an umbrella and walks Penelope to her front door. Penelope soon discovers that one balloon has drifted home. Grabbing it, she races to her room and wraps it elaborately in a box to preserve it. As she tries mightily to protect it from her parents, who want to help, it breaks. Still, there’s good news in the air—literally: Outside the window, everyone glimpses nine red balloons floating in the air. Flinging the front door open, Penelope discovers her balloons have received help returning home: Each one’s clutched firmly by a good friend. Penelope now realizes what the “greatest treasures” truly are. This sweet friendship story makes clear that people are more important than even the most cherished of objects. The lively, colorful illustrations—those red balloons really pop—keep things moving. Penelope’s an endearing, realistically developed character among the anthropomorphized all-animal cast; children will relate to her plight.
A cozy friendship story is always welcome; the animals and balloons here add to the fun. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 16, 2024
ISBN: 9781454951827
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
