Anodyne at best. (Picture book. 3-7)
Marlon Bundo, a black-and-white rabbit, helps out Grampa—the vice president—on what is represented as a typical day.
From “freshly brewed coffee” delivered by the Naval Enlisted Aides to “one little prayer before bed,” Marlon Bundo narrates the day’s events. In the West Wing, Grampa and Marlon start off with “the most important meeting…. / That’s the one with the president!” Then they head to the Capitol, “where Grampa presides over a vote.” (Which tie-breaking vote is not mentioned, so readers can imagine whether it’s confirming Betsy DeVos, gutting the Affordable Care Act, or some future controversy.) They then meet with “people from across America” with “questions and problems. / And Grampa helps answer each one.” Then it’s back to the Naval Observatory for a quick squint through its telescope, a phone call from “the president!” and a quiet reading of the Bible. Karen Pence is a competent watercolorist, creating double-page spreads that depict Marlon Bundo hopping through clearly recognizable, famous scenes. Save a white Secret Service agent who’s shown opening Grampa’s limo door, humans are depicted mostly as feet or hands, none of them of color. Charlotte Pence’s verse is frankly execrable, torturing syntax and introducing nonsensical detail in order to maintain rhyme and meter. Additional information is offered in three pages of notes misleadingly labeled “resources.” Proceeds go to A21 and Tracy's Kids.
Anodyne at best. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: March 19, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-62157-776-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Regnery Kids
Review Posted Online: March 19, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2018
Though it is light on specific information about how and why teeth are lost, most children will enjoy relating to Bear in...
Wilson and Chapman continue this popular series that began with Bear Snores On (2002).
Bear has invited his friends for lunch, when “something wiggled, and it wobbled…something moved when he chewed! It was… / Bear’s / loose / tooth!” In full-bleed spreads with a palette dominated by blues and greens, Chapman ably portrays Bear’s concern over this dental dilemma as well as the genuine empathy and determination of his many animal friends when they try to help remove the tooth. On several pages Bear looks right at readers as he reacts to his predicament, bringing them immediately into the story. After Hare, Mouse, Wren, Owl, Badger and others all fail at prying it loose, Bear “used his tongue and…gave a little nudge” until it falls out. A fairy comes as Bear sleeps and leaves “blueberries where Bear’s tooth had been!” Wilson keeps young readers engaged with rhyming text that keeps the gentle action flowing.
Though it is light on specific information about how and why teeth are lost, most children will enjoy relating to Bear in his latest oh-so-cozy adventure. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4169-5855-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: July 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2011
Gives new meaning to the notion that every dog—or pup—has its day.
A young girl learns that plans that go awry need not spoil the day.
Ollie has ambitious intentions for dog sitting Milo, her grandmother’s puppy, but those plans are spoiled when he chews up her drawing, a gift intended for Grandma when she returns from visiting friends. The girl scolds the little dog and then takes some time to herself, leaving him behind and walking farther and farther away from home in order to cool off. But as the illustrations show, Milo is never far behind, surreptitiously trailing her all the way through the woods. Ollie reflects on the part she played in the drawing’s destruction, since she knew better than to leave it unguarded on the floor, and she regrets getting mad at the dog. When she finally stops and wishes for company, the loyal pup is right nearby. They spend their day frolicking in the woods, playing fetch, splashing in mud puddles, and hunting for treasure as pirates. When they return home, she still has time to draw another picture or two. Accessible text with relatable, appealing characters helps the message of adaptability go down smoothly. The charming artwork features various shades of gray as well as pink and red spot color, often in heart shapes. Ollie, who has skin the white of the page, wears a dog costume throughout the story. Her experience demonstrates that things can work out just fine, even when they weren’t what you had in mind.
Gives new meaning to the notion that every dog—or pup—has its day. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Dec. 3, 2024
ISBN: 9781665965903
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2024
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