Children will clamor to join in the wild rumpus.
A trip to the zoo could result in a hullabaloo if the soundly sleeping panda is disturbed.
Written in a rollicking, rhyming text, the first paragraph of the story starts off innocently enough. “So you’re here at the zoo on this glorious day. / You’re sure to have fun—it’s a great place to play. / Come in. Look around. Relax and explore. / Inside you will find there are creatures galore. / You’ll have a magnificent time at the zoo….” But that ellipsis leads readers across the gutter to a final clause: “… just don’t wake the panda whatever you do.” Readers soon learn of the consequences. If the panda wakes up “he gets very grumpy, / which hypes up the hippos and makes them all jumpy.” This sets off a chain reaction among the zoo animals: the geckos and gibbons start giggling, the chimps “chit-chatter,” the yaks (of course) start yakking, “the crocodile, too, starts snapping on cue,” and so on, until “there’s grunting and growling and prancing and prowling,” ultimately causing a stampede. Owen’s rhyming text—awkward at times—is augmented by Nixon’s bold and striking illustrations starring a whole cast of creatures. Somersaulting hippos, trumpeting elephants, and hopping kangaroos rendered in vivid, matte colors all add to the party atmosphere. Packed with fun animal noises and dynamic actions to mimic, it may be the ultimate read-aloud.
Children will clamor to join in the wild rumpus. (Picture book. 4-10)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-61067-619-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kane Miller
Review Posted Online: July 1, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2017
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
Trisha is ready to start at a new school, where no one will know she has dyslexia. At first, she is heartbroken to be in Miss Peterson’s special-ed class, aka, “the junkyard.” But Miss Peterson treats the children as anything but junk, showing them that everyone has a unique talent. Polacco’s trademark style is fully present here; her sensitively drawn alter ego shines with depth of feeling. When bullying occurs, Miss Peterson proves her students are worthwhile by planning a junkyard field trip, where they find valuable objects to be used in exciting ways. Trisha’s group repairs a plane, and the class buys an engine for it. Then a beloved class member dies, and the children must find a way to honor him. While the plot meanders somewhat, the characters are appealing, believable and provide a fine portrayal of a truly special class. Children will be drawn in by the story’s warmth and gentle humor and will leave with a spark of inspiration, an appreciation of individual differences and a firm anti-bullying message, all underscored by the author’s note that concludes the book. (Picture book. 7-10)
Pub Date: July 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-399-25078-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2010
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