Few will be calmed by this raucous crew’s capers, but at least they’ll see that sometimes bedtime can be an adventure all...
A familiar bedtime routine gets a pirate-themed makeover.
Think pirate PJs would just be of the black-and-white-striped variety? Think again! Pirates, it seems, enjoy pajamas with pom-poms, frilly sleeves, and even footies. On board the Leaky Parrot, Capt. Redbeard leads his crew through the bedtime motions. In a refreshing twist, the pirates found here aren’t avoiding going to bed in the least. They are, however, milking every second of the preparation process. From sculpting their hair into shark fins in the bath to dance parties and pillow fights, these buccaneers know how to put the yo-ho-hos into their nighty-nights. While the book reads more like a pirate sleepover party than the usual bedtime routine (though oral hygiene is recognized in the cover image, no teeth get brushed in the narrative), kids will nevertheless come away from the story hankering for a pirate-themed bedtime of their own. Knight’s visuals are bold and bright, and the cartoony images studiously avoid the viewing of the occasional accidental mooning (though they do make a Simon and Garfunkel reference for the benefit of adult readers). The sheer variety of pajama types helps keep the story young and fun.
Few will be calmed by this raucous crew’s capers, but at least they’ll see that sometimes bedtime can be an adventure all its own. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-58925-190-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
It’s an obvious overture to parental transitioning tactics, but it’s an imaginative adventure just the same.
Zoe and Addie have been given a five-minute warning from their mother—will their game of chase end on time?
Murguia has a way of tapping into young children’s foibles. In Zoe Gets Ready (2012), Zoe gains the responsibility for choosing her own outfit. In Zoe’s Room (No Sisters Allowed) (2013), Zoe learns to share. In this latest Zoe adventure, Zoe and Addie’s mother tells the kids they have five minutes before they must leave the playground. Zoe erupts into outraged shouts and defiant flailings until her mother declares, “Four minutes!” Zoe had better make the rest of the time count. Addie imaginatively transforms into the wild Addiebeast and Zoe, the explorer, must capture her. They race across roaring rivers (the play pond), swing on vines (the monkey bars) and crawl through thick jungle underbrush (a tunnel). Addie’s orange polka-dot dress turns into a spotted tail or paw flashing off-page, hastening the chase. But all the while, mother’s countdown continues, in ever-more-emphatic speech bubbles. Will the Addiebeast be caught? Zoe is full of spitfire and dash, plus there is a veritable explosion of sparkles on the cover. How are young readers to resist?
It’s an obvious overture to parental transitioning tactics, but it’s an imaginative adventure just the same. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 27, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-545-55869-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Levine/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2014
Familiarity here breeds contentment.
Shipwrecked pachyderms find many pleasures and surprises on a tropical island.
Babar and Celeste and their family, along with their friend “the old lady,” board a boat in Celesteville “for a day on the water.” A storm at sea changes everything; the ship hits a reef and capsizes. The party is able to walk to shore, an island with vines and bushes and palm trees. Babar comes face to face with a creature that looks like a dragon, but when it opens its mouth, not fire but welcoming words come out. The preternaturally helpful creature helps them find coconuts to eat, shows them how to build a hut, and takes them to a waterfall where they can shower and swim. Some of them even get to ride on the dragon’s back. Days pass, and many other animal residents of the island come forward to introduce themselves. At night, everybody sits around the fire, singing songs and telling stories. The old lady even manages to make a delicious key lime pie for all to share. Rescue is inevitable, though Babar has mixed emotions. Could their new friend go with them? Even into its umpteenth volume, the hallmarks of the series stand out: simple, declarative sentences, ever-so-mild threat level, blocky, clothed elephants—de Brunhoff’s too smart to mess with a successful formula.
Familiarity here breeds contentment. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 13, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4197-1038-4
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: March 11, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© 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.
