A helpful, encouraging read for kids at a crucial life stage.
A fairy encourages children to give up their pacifiers in Attry, Febvre, and Lawson’s picture book, illustrated by Huette (Rare Patients in the Waiting Room, 2012, etc.).
Pacita, a dark-haired, light-skinned, humanlike fairy, visits anthropomorphic animal children when it’s time for them to surrender their pacifiers. The narrator explains that in order “to speak like a big kid, paci needs to come out.” In exchange, Pacita leaves the kids an encouraging “letter full of wisdom and grace.” In it, the fairy explains that their “soothie” will be added to her own extensive collection, where it will be displayed in its own cubbyhole. The narrator acknowledges the difficulties that many children have without the comfort of their pacifiers, emphasizing that it’s “OK to feel sad.” Pacita later returns with a second letter: “Congrats!” it says. “Soothie’s no longer needed! The challenge seemed grand but you have succeeded!” Huette’s digital, cartoon-style illustrations are colorful and sweet, offering playful, charming scenes featuring animal children, Pacita’s pacifier collection, and her visits to various households. The story’s intent is clear and specific, and it will be helpful for youngsters who are getting ready to make a change. The book’s back matter features in-depth information for adults about pacifier use, including practical advice from a clinical psychologist.
A helpful, encouraging read for kids at a crucial life stage.Pub Date: May 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-73345-680-7
Page Count: 26
Publisher: Beyond the Bridge Communications, LLC
Review Posted Online: Feb. 10, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Broccoli: No way is James going to eat broccoli. “It’s disgusting,” says James. Well then, James, says his father, let’s consider the alternatives: some wormy dirt, perhaps, some stinky socks, some pre-chewed gum? James reconsiders the broccoli, but—milk? “Blech,” says James. Right, says his father, who needs strong bones? You’ll be great at hide-and-seek, though not so great at baseball and kickball and even tickling the dog’s belly. James takes a mouthful. So it goes through lumpy oatmeal, mushroom lasagna and slimy eggs, with James’ father parrying his son’s every picky thrust. And it is fun, because the father’s retorts are so outlandish: the lasagna-making troll in the basement who will be sent back to the rat circus, there to endure the rodent’s vicious bites; the uneaten oatmeal that will grow and grow and probably devour the dog that the boy won’t be able to tickle any longer since his bones are so rubbery. Schneider’s watercolors catch the mood of gentle ribbing, the looks of bewilderment and surrender and the deadpanned malarkey. It all makes James’ father’s last urging—“I was just going to say that you might like them if you tried them”—wholly fresh and unexpected advice. (Early reader. 5-9)
Pub Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-547-14956-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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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