An enjoyable children’s book that should make better use of its educational aspects.
In this illustrated tale, a baby goose, the last of his clutch to hatch, learns the skills he’ll need to fit in with the other geese at the lake.
A mother goose has one egg left to hatch, but she worries it’s a dud. When it hatches while she’s taking her other goslings on a trip to the other side of the lake, the gosling’s Uncle Ray has to step in and help him get started. The mother and her other goslings are excited to meet the new baby when they return home, and the mother decides to name her only son Rufus, after his father. At first, he seems to be more rambunctious than his sisters, wanting only to swim and play rather than learn from his mother how to find the best grass and shelter. Finally, he begins to grow up a little and pay attention to his mother. The story, mostly told through dialogue between Rufus and his family, features cute, realistic illustrations of geese that children will enjoy, as well as settings done in a lovely watercolor style. Especially appealing is a spread of the goslings falling asleep; on the first page they’re curling up on the grass, and in the second they’ve tucked their heads under their wings and bunched up together to stay warm. Gummer’s story has a fairly effective lesson for why children should listen to parents and how, if children only do fun things like swimming all the time, they won’t learn the skills needed to become adults. However, the author could have strengthened this theme by focusing more on the results of Rufus’ actions; as is, conflicts are set up, but they don’t always have consequences, which might be a little confusing to small children. Finally, the story could have incorporated additional facts about geese—what they eat, how they sleep, whether they were preparing to fly south for the winter, etc.—to make the book more appealing for the classroom.
An enjoyable children’s book that should make better use of its educational aspects.Pub Date: March 25, 2013
ISBN: 978-1480800267
Page Count: 34
Publisher: ArchwayPublishing
Review Posted Online: June 25, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A nice but not requisite purchase.
A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.
Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.
A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Playful, engaging, and full of opportunities for empathy—a raucous storytime hit.
Readers try to dislodge a monster from the pages of this emotive and interactive read-aloud.
“OH NO!” the story starts. “There’s a monster in your book!” The blue, round-headed monster with pink horns and a pink-tipped tail can be seen cheerfully munching on the opening page. “Let’s try to get him out,” declares the narrator. Readers are encouraged to shake, tilt, and spin the book around, while the monster careens around an empty background looking scared and lost. Viewers are exhorted to tickle the monster’s feet, blow on the page, and make a really loud noise. Finally, shockingly, it works: “Now he’s in your room!” But clearly a monster in your book is safer than a monster in your room, so he’s coaxed back into the illustrations and lulled to sleep, curled up under one page and cuddling a bit of another like a child with their blankie. The monster’s entirely cute appearance and clear emotional reactions to his treatment add to the interactive aspect, and some young readers might even resist the instructions to avoid hurting their new pal. Children will be brought along on the monster’s journey, going from excited, noisy, and wiggly to calm and steady (one can hope).
Playful, engaging, and full of opportunities for empathy—a raucous storytime hit. (Picture book. 2-7)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5247-6456-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: June 4, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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