A whimsical and sweet tale told with a lot of imagination.
DaVeiga’s picture book presents an out-of-this-world origin story for a common confection.
Chocolate was not always a cherished treat on Earth; originally, the substance only existed on a distant planet called Fondue, inhabited by anthropomorphic bunny rabbits called Fonduliens. The planet was dripping in sugar, candy, and syrup, and “everything, including the bunnies, was covered with sweet, fudgy chocolate.” The Fonduliens set out on a mission to find a new home when rising temperatures threaten their planet, and they choose Earth for its beauty. A diverse group of parents and children are amazed when the Fonduliens’ spaceship enters Earth’s atmosphere The parents are afraid of the visitors, but the children are simply curious, especially when the crew presents a chocolate fondue fountain. The author playfully imagines the history of chocolate while emphasizing the virtues of teamwork, curiosity, and friendship. DeVeiga’s writing is enhanced by the use of sensory details, such as clouds that “rained gooey syrup.” The text is complemented by Peres’ bright, appealing illustrations. The planet Fondue is rendered in vibrant shades of brown, pink, and blue set against a deep blue background. In one fanciful tableau, a line of text circles the spaceship carrying Fonduliens Flop, Hop, and Flip.
A whimsical and sweet tale told with a lot of imagination.Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2023
ISBN: 9781958050064
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Waterhole Productions LLC
Review Posted Online: March 7, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
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)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A brisk if bland offering for series fans, but cleverer metafictive romps abound.
The titular cookie runs off the page at a bookstore storytime, pursued by young listeners and literary characters.
Following on 13 previous How To Catch… escapades, Wallace supplies sometimes-tortured doggerel and Elkerton, a set of helter-skelter cartoon scenes. Here the insouciant narrator scampers through aisles, avoiding a series of elaborate snares set by the racially diverse young storytime audience with help from some classic figures: “Alice and her mad-hat friends, / as a gift for my unbirthday, / helped guide me through the walls of shelves— / now I’m bound to find my way.” The literary helpers don’t look like their conventional or Disney counterparts in the illustrations, but all are clearly identified by at least a broad hint or visual cue, like the unnamed “wizard” who swoops in on a broom to knock over a tower labeled “Frogwarts.” Along with playing a bit fast and loose with details (“Perhaps the boy with the magic beans / saved me with his cow…”) the author discards his original’s lip-smacking climax to have the errant snack circling back at last to his book for a comfier sort of happily-ever-after.
A brisk if bland offering for series fans, but cleverer metafictive romps abound. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Aug. 3, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-7282-0935-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
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BOOK REVIEW
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