A gorgeous portrayal of a relaxing life in the wilderness.
This kids’ book introduces readers to the colorful, exotic world of the Costa Rican jungle through the eyes of an iguana.
Daniel, an iguana, lives a happy life in the rain forest. He enjoys relaxing on a branch in the sun, eating leaves, and smelling the flowers. His favorite saying is “Pura vida” (“pure life”), a term that reflects the cultural idea that one should live a happy and relaxed existence. Daniel has a few friends who agree with his philosophy, such as Vivi the butterfly, Garcia the sloth, and Linda and Carlos, two other iguanas. However, he also knows animals that don’t seem interested in this lifestyle, such as Hannah the toucan, Julian the howler monkey, Arnoldo the grackle, and Alba and Peyton, a jaguar and an ocelot. Despite their occasional urgings for Daniel to change his behavior, the iguana decides in the end that he’s happy with his life and with himself, and that’s good enough. The book introduces a particular philosophy of self-acceptance, but what it does best is show readers the incredible world of the rain forest. Drawn in bold, bright colors, the illustrations bring the jungle and its inhabitants to life. Set against a background of tall trees and brilliant flowers, readers see Daniel interact with gorgeous creatures in all parts of his environment. Garcia hangs languidly from his tree; birds fly in front of a brilliant blue sky with white clouds; and an osprey hovers above an iridescent river, into which Daniel dives. From the subtle blushes of the flowers to the incredible detail of Vivi the butterfly’s wings, each page of this book could be a painting in itself. Overall, the vivid illustrations and charming story are the perfect way to expose children to the incredible vibrancy and unique habitat of the rain forest.
A gorgeous portrayal of a relaxing life in the wilderness.Pub Date: July 17, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4575-3977-0
Page Count: 58
Publisher: Dog Ear
Review Posted Online: Aug. 24, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2015
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
What if the market was closed when you wanted to bake a pie? You could embark for Europe, learn Italian en route, and pick up some semolina wheat in Italy, an egg in France, kurundu bark for cinnamon in Sri Lanka, and an entire cow in England (butter) before coming home via Jamaica (sugar) and Vermont (apples). The expertly designed illustrations in which a dark-haired lass journeys by various means to these interesting places to get her groceries are lovely and lively, and the narrative, too, travels at a spritely pace. The journey is neither quite logical enough to be truly informative nor quite bizarre enough to be satisfyingly silly, while the rich, sweet recipe that's appended will take some adult assistance. Still, fun. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: May 2, 1994
ISBN: 0-679-83705-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1994
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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