For a genuinely clever story about street skating, stick to the almost wordless classic Skates, by Ezra Jack Keats. For a...
Degen attempts the daunting task of writing a satisfying story using just 49 words and avoiding singsong rhymes.
Nate, a gray, skateboarding kitten, and Kate, an orange kitten enamored of hats, experience a bobble in their friendship. Words in the “-ate” and “-at” word families are used repeatedly. Nate, skate, great, grate, hate, gate, wait, and late, and hat, that, flat, and even brat are repeated often enough that beginning readers will start to recognize and anticipate them and eventually read them. Observant readers will also find some of these words or their variants in the first few illustrations. The 33 sight words are all one syllable and are also used repeatedly. The book succeeds admirably as a beginning reader. Its success as a picture book is more problematic. The story is slight, and the central conflict—hurt feelings between friends—is quickly and arbitrarily resolved with Nate’s and Kate’s mutual apologies when feelings are hurt and subsequent appreciation of each other’s enthusiasms. Thankfully, this is accomplished without any preachy adult intervention. Some grown-ups may be uncomfortable with the recurrence of “hate” and “brat,” but children will appreciate the unvarnished feelings.
For a genuinely clever story about street skating, stick to the almost wordless classic Skates, by Ezra Jack Keats. For a nonpedantic beginning reader, Degen’s offering works well enough. (Picture book/early reader. 4-7)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3456-5
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 2, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2015
A read sure to banish melancholy feelings once and for all.
Friends can brighten one’s disposition.
Deep in his lair, Bear’s lonely because no one’s around to play with him. Mouse, Wren, and Owl are foraging, while Hare’s helping his sister dig weeds. Badger’s fishing, and Gopher and Mole are digging tunnels. Raven, writing poetry, can’t be disturbed. “I’m bored!” sighs Bear. “I don’t want to be alone!” “And the bear feels sad”—a refrain the rhyming text repeats frequently. Bear’s carrot snack isn’t so tasty when there’s no one to share it with. Building a blanket fort passes the time, but it isn’t nearly as much fun on his own. Even the discovery of a field filled with beautiful flowers is cause for unhappiness—his buddies can’t see them. Bear fashions bouquets uniquely suited to each friend. Thinking about his pals gladdens him somewhat, and he heads home. Near his den, Bear hears voices: His friends have returned, bearing gifts for him from their exploits. Raven reads his poem, and Bear distributes his bouquets. Everyone plays and chats. Bear’s mood now? “GLAD!” This sweet tale, expressed in well-constructed verse, makes keen observations about how the warmth of camaraderie can swiftly turn sadness to joy. The sunshine-bright acrylic illustrations, featuring endearing animal characters, will lift readers’ spirits as the kindness of Bear’s companions boosts his own.
A read sure to banish melancholy feelings once and for all. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9781665936576
Page Count: 40
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: Dec. 28, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2025
A pleasant story about books and reading to share with kids and bears.
Who doesn’t want to find the perfect book?
Book-loving Bear stands at the edge of the woods daily, listening to a blue-haired, tan-skinned girl named Ellen reading aloud beneath a tree. Before long, Bear emerges from his hiding place and sits beside her, entranced. Bear wants his own book—one that is the color of “ripe red raspberries” and is “delicious to read”—and asks Ellen where to get one. The places she names—her classroom, the library, the bookstore—don’t welcome bears. In order to choose his own book, Bear, accompanied by Ellen, visits each locale in disguise, dressing up as a superhero, a blueberry bush, and a coat-and-hat–wearing, umbrella-toting furry giant; unfortunately, all his efforts end in disappointment, with no book in paw. But never underestimate good old-fashioned ingenuity: Bear comes up with an ideal plan for acquiring a book, and together, he and Ellen find—no, make—the perfect book for Bear, a raspberry-red one that Ellen reads aloud, beginning with the words “Bear loved books.” This cute but obvious, slightly strained tale nevertheless conveys a terrific message about the love of books and the joy of reading. The warm bond between Bear and Ellen is sweetly appealing, as are the gentle humor and lively, colorful illustrations. Adults sharing the book should encourage children to write and illustrate and, if possible, read their own books. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A pleasant story about books and reading to share with kids and bears. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: July 18, 2023
ISBN: 9780593527245
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Review Posted Online: April 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2023
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