JON FOX AND THE MONSTER OF THE POND

Name: JON FOX AND THE MONSTER OF THE POND
Author: Carson Steil

by Carson Steil & illustrated by Carson Steil ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 9, 2011

The author and software designer show glimmers of creativity, but their learning curves are clearly still on the upswing.

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Another app not ready for prime time, featuring a perfunctory story tricked out in a sparse assortment of crudely designed animations and touch-activated effects.

Depicted in the bland cartoon illustrations as a fox wearing Harry Potter–style eyeglasses, Jon stops at a pond on the way to school with thoughts of taking a dip. Spotting a green “monster” (plainly modeled on the Creature from the Black Lagoon) asleep on the bottom, he chucks a rock at it. When the monster rises, weeping, Jon expresses remorse, whereupon it utters a platitude—“When you see someone new you should always think twice! / Looks alone can’t tell you who’s mean or nice”—then pulls off its head to reveal that it was his (apparently amphibious) mother all along in a full body costume. Though the auto page-turn option works so quickly that some readers may miss the interactive effects entirely, tapping a tiny berry or shell in each tableau causes one or more small animals to pop into view briefly, then vanish either behind something or, with a notably unrealistic splash, into the pond. Similarly, tears drip and fish swim by, but one slight arm movement is the monster’s only animation, and Jon Fox manages to walk, run, talk and throw that rock without moving any body part.

The author and software designer show glimmers of creativity, but their learning curves are clearly still on the upswing. (iPad storybook app. 5-7)

Pub Date: July 9, 2011

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Taylor Steil

Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2011

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THE TOAD

From the Disgusting Critters series

by Elise Gravel ; illustrated by Elise Gravel ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 5, 2016

A light dose of natural history, with occasional “EWWW!” for flavor

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Having surveyed worms, spiders, flies, and head lice, Gravel continues her Disgusting Critters series with a quick hop through toad fact and fancy.

The facts are briefly presented in a hand-lettered–style typeface frequently interrupted by visually emphatic interjections (“TOXIN,” “PREY,” “EWWW!”). These are, as usual, paired to simply drawn cartoons with comments and punch lines in dialogue balloons. After casting glances at the common South American ancestor of frogs and toads, and at such exotic species as the Emei mustache toad (“Hey ladies!”), Gravel focuses on the common toad, Bufo bufo. Using feminine pronouns throughout, she describes diet and egg-laying, defense mechanisms, “warts,” development from tadpole to adult, and of course how toads shed and eat their skins. Noting that global warming and habitat destruction have rendered some species endangered or extinct, she closes with a plea and, harking back to those South American origins, an image of an outsized toad, arm in arm with a dark-skinned lad (in a track suit), waving goodbye: “Hasta la vista!”

A light dose of natural history, with occasional “EWWW!” for flavor . (Informational picture book. 5-7)

Pub Date: July 5, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-77049-667-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Tundra Books

Review Posted Online: April 12, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

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by Elise Gravel ; illustrated by Elise Gravel

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by Elise Gravel ; illustrated by Elise Gravel

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by Elise Gravel ; illustrated by Elise Gravel

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HOW TO CATCH A REINDEER

by Alice Walstead ; illustrated by Andy Elkerton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 4, 2022

These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.

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The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.

Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)