A bright, bouncy, beautifully illustrated space-travel fantasy for kids.
A kid and his parrot blast off in search of Mars and lose their way exploring the wonders of the galaxy in this picture book from Corcoran.
In this sequel to Treasure Isle: A Swashbuckling Tale of a Boy and his Parrot (2021), we meet the boy (who is never referred to by name), a red-headed primary school child with a sunny outlook and a propensity for daydreaming (“The boy had a parrot, a book about stars, / A small rocket ship, and directions to Mars”). One day, having indulged in some stargazing with his affable, green-colored pet parrot, he decides they should visit Mars together. They take off in a backyard rocket ship and have fun drawing pictures and playing chess in zero gravity; soon, however, they find themselves lost. Having asked directions from some passing Martians, they make it to the Red Planet and enjoy a picnic with their new friends before heading home again; ultimately it’s revealed that they are spinning yarns from within a cardboard-box play rocket. Corcoran relates the boys’ escapades in rhyming anapestic tetrameter, affording the story a jaunty, surging rhythm. Lundeen’s watery crayon-and-paint illustrations capture both the wondrous unknown of outer space and the pastel daydreaming of a fantasist in full flight. The boy and his parrot (in particular) brim with personality. The neighboring children represent a range of ethnicities, while the brief addendum of space facts (e.g., “It rains diamonds on Jupiter”) helps elucidate the specific landing places along the boy’s journey.
A bright, bouncy, beautifully illustrated space-travel fantasy for kids.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A jam-packed opener sure to satisfy lovers of the princess genre.
Ice princess Lina must navigate family and school in this early chapter read.
The family picnic is today. This is not a typical gathering, since Lina’s maternal relatives are a royal family of Windtamers who have power over the weather and live in castles floating on clouds. Lina herself is mixed race, with black hair and a tan complexion like her Asian-presenting mother’s; her Groundling father appears to be a white human. While making a grand entrance at the castle of her grandfather, the North Wind, she fails to successfully ride a gust of wind and crashes in front of her entire family. This prompts her stern grandfather to ask that Lina move in with him so he can teach her to control her powers. Desperate to avoid this, Lina and her friend Claudia, who is black, get Lina accepted at the Hilltop Science and Arts Academy. Lina’s parents allow her to go as long as she does lessons with grandpa on Saturdays. However, fitting in at a Groundling school is rough, especially when your powers start freak winter storms! With the story unfurling in diary format, bright-pink–highlighted grayscale illustrations help move the plot along. There are slight gaps in the storytelling and the pacing is occasionally uneven, but Lina is full of spunk and promotes self-acceptance.
A jam-packed opener sure to satisfy lovers of the princess genre. (Fantasy. 5-8)Pub Date: June 25, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-35393-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
Warm but underdone.
In this picture book from actor Gyllenhaal and his partner, Caruso, a child and his uncle bond on a fantastic journey.
Leo, an avid dancer, is dismayed when Uncle Mo visits—he’s in town for a “rubber band convention.” Illustrations show both with wavy brown hair and light tan skin. Not only does Leo think his uncle is rather dull, he’s also leery of Uncle Mo’s many rules. A rather abrupt narrative shift occurs when the pair inexplicably drive into another dimension. Here they encounter Great-Aunt Gloria (who is very tall and presents Black) and Uncle Munkle Carbunkle (who is very short and light-skinned), who guide them through the Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles. Unimpressed with Uncle Mo, Great-Aunt Gloria says he must take a quiz on “Auntieology and Uncleology.” After several wrong answers, Uncle Mo has a final chance at redemption: He must state his nephew’s favorite activity. When Leo springs into action to dance for his clueless uncle, a mishap leaves him mortified and un-bespectacled. Enter Uncle Mo to save the day by using a rubber band to secure Leo’s glasses. While Santat’s energetic illustrations do much to clarify the narrative, they can’t fully make up for the disjointed storytelling—it’s never clear why the two have entered this dimension or why Leo is suddenly so eager to help Uncle Mo. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Warm but underdone. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781250776990
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
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