Forget your troubles—but not your snorkel!—this read is smooth sailing.
Bunny sets sail and goes for a dip.
This gentle seafaring jaunt begins with Bunny, clad in an old-fashioned bathing costume, bidding readers “Ahoy!” and setting sail for a day on the peaceful, summery sea. With a little help from readers, Bunny puts wind in the sail, rocks the boat, and “kerplunks” safely back on deck after a near miss of the titular “Overboard!” After donning snorkeling gear, Bunny’s delight at staying dry is rendered endearingly moot as—“buns away!”—Rueda takes the frame under the sea, where Bunny invites readers to touch a “gooey rock” and pat a pufferfish and asks for assistance with an inky octopus and hunting treasure. Whatever Bunny’s tale lacks in plot, it more than makes up for in sweetness: soft, simple pencil illustrations are colored with a cheerful nautical palette, and Bunny smiles welcomingly out on every page. A charming surprise mirror will surely show readers smiling right back. On the return trip, a seal readers have seen all along is at long last revealed to the oblivious narrator, and all ends well with a refreshing glass of carrot lemonade for everyone involved. Small details add to the charm: The little sailboat is named, hilariously, “BUNNY,” and the range of expressions sported by the assorted sea creatures demands a second read.
Forget your troubles—but not your snorkel!—this read is smooth sailing. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 12, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4521-6256-0
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: March 14, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2020
A good choice for offering comfort and support to a budding perfectionist.
Can anyone be perfect?
Beatrice Bottomwell always does everything right. “Most people in town didn’t even know Beatrice’s name. They just called her ‘The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes,’ because for as long as anyone could remember, she never did.” One Thursday though, she almost does something wrong (she drops some eggs while cooking at school but catches them just in time). Straightforward text describes Beatrice’s predicament as, unnerved, she ponders her almost-error and begins to worry. What if she really does do something wrong? Brightly colored watercolors and gentle humor combine to portray Beatrice’s eventful day, her growing fear and her sprightly pet hamster. During a school talent show, Beatrice finally makes a real mistake—in front of everyone. How will she cope? Learning how to relax enough to laugh and simply be herself just might do the trick. While the plot is predictable and the solution to the problem fairly pat, this is a well-intentioned story, full of acceptance and goodwill. It will be especially useful in a therapeutic setting; it may be a real comfort to a child who is afraid of making mistakes, while children dealing with similar issues will also find reassurance here.
A good choice for offering comfort and support to a budding perfectionist. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5544-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2011
A predictable series entry, mitigated as usual by the protagonists’ perennially energetic positivity.
A holiday-centered spinoff from the duo behind the inspired The Day the Crayons Quit (2013).
With Green Crayon on vacation, how can the waxy ones pull off a colorful St. Patrick’s Day celebration with Duncan, their (unseen) owner? Through their signature combo of cooperation and unwavering enthusiasm, of course. Blue and Yellow collaborate on a field of shamrocks that blends—however spottily—into green. Nearly invisible White Crayon supplies an otherwise unclothed light-skinned leprechaun with undies, and Orange draws a pair of pants that match the wee creature’s iconic beard and hair. Pink applies colors to a vest, and Purple, a natty jacket and boots. Chunky Toddler Crayon contributes a “perfect” scribbly blue hat; Beige and Brown team up for the leprechaun’s harp. In arguably the best bit, Black exuberantly manifests a decidedly unvariegated rainbow, while Gold’s pot of coins is right on the money, hue-wise. Their ardor undimmed by the holiday’s missing customary color, everyone assembles to party. Though the repartee among the crayons isn’t as developed as in previous outings, the book hews close to Daywalt and Jeffers’ winning formula, and there’s still enough here to keep readers chuckling. And, in a droll “wait for it” moment nicely calibrated for storytime, Green returns from vacation, sunglasses and suitcase in hand: “Did I miss anything while I was gone?” (The cover illustrations do hint at some Green-inflected remediation.)
A predictable series entry, mitigated as usual by the protagonists’ perennially energetic positivity. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2024
ISBN: 9780593624333
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2023
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