Scooter’s adventure is suitable for young children, while the endnotes will interest general readers of all ages.
Readers meet many animals common to U.S. cities when a shaggy, terrierlike dog slips away from home for a day and wanders around his neighborhood.
“Nature is all around us, even in the city. Follow Scooter as he uses his senses to discover city critters.” Despite the dog’s friendly, winsome expression, children over age 7 will probably chafe at the command and the ensuing simplistic story. Little ones, however, will enjoy the many opportunities for seeing the animals that Scooter notices—and those he does not. Throughout his odyssey, every double-page spread is crammed with digitally produced, hyperrealistic urban scenes full of flora, fauna, people, and human-created objects. There is a bit of plot, as Scooter’s responsible African-American owners search for their lost dog and post signs. Juvenile humor enters in the form of bird poo on the dog’s head. After the predictable, comforting ending, there are excellent notes for teachers and students. Unfortunately, the story itself and the illustrations have an overworked quality that may lead readers to give up before reaching the endnotes. Also, the text inexplicably and regularly uses italics in a way that detracts from natural scanning. (“Scooter isn’t aware of the pigeon feathers….But he soon becomes aware of an unfamiliar sound.”)
Scooter’s adventure is suitable for young children, while the endnotes will interest general readers of all ages. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-58469-553-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dawn Publications
Review Posted Online: Dec. 7, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet reminder that it’s easy to weather a storm with the company and kindness of friends.
Is it a stormy-night scare or a bedtime book? Both!
Little Blue Truck and his good friend Toad are heading home when a storm lets loose. Before long, their familiar, now very nervous barnyard friends (Goat, Hen, Goose, Cow, Duck, and Pig) squeeze into the garage. Blue explains that “clouds bump and tumble in the sky, / but here inside we’re warm and dry, / and all the thirsty plants below / will get a drink to help them grow!” The friends begin to relax. “Duck said, loud as he could quack it, / ‘THUNDER’S JUST A NOISY RACKET!’ ” In the quiet after the storm, the barnyard friends are sleepy, but the garage is not their home. “ ‘Beep!’ said Blue. ‘Just hop inside. / All aboard for the bedtime ride!’ ” Young readers will settle down for their own bedtimes as Blue and Toad drop each friend at home and bid them a good night before returning to the garage and their own beds. “Blue gave one small sleepy ‘Beep.’ / Then Little Blue Truck fell fast asleep.” Joseph’s rich nighttime-blue illustrations (done “in the style of [series co-creator] Jill McElmurry”) highlight the power of the storm and capture the still serenity that follows. Little Blue Truck has been chugging along since 2008, but there seems to be plenty of gas left in the tank.
A sweet reminder that it’s easy to weather a storm with the company and kindness of friends. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 22, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-328-85213-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: June 22, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together.
A clueless duckling tries to make a new friend.
He is confused by this peculiar-looking duck, who has a long tail, doesn’t waddle and likes to be alone. No matter how explicitly the creature denies he is a duck and announces that he is a cat, the duckling refuses to acknowledge the facts. When this creature expresses complete lack of interest in playing puddle stomp, the little ducking goes off and plays on his own. But the cat is not without remorse for rejecting an offered friendship. Of course it all ends happily, with the two new friends enjoying each other’s company. Bramsen employs brief sentences and the simplest of rhymes to tell this slight tale. The two heroes are meticulously drawn with endearing, expressive faces and body language, and their feathers and fur appear textured and touchable. Even the detailed tree bark and grass seem three-dimensional. There are single- and double-page spreads, panels surrounded by white space and circular and oval frames, all in a variety of eye-pleasing juxtapositions. While the initial appeal is solidly visual, young readers will get the gentle message that friendship is not something to take for granted but is to be embraced with open arms—or paws and webbed feet.
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-375-86990-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 13, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2012
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