Young superhero wannabes will be shouting “Wonk ’em!” in no time.
Saving the planet’s easy when your rivals are only powered by imagination. Can these heroes handle a real nemesis?
Bucky and Stu, becaped buddies who are sworn “protectors of their hometown, their planet and their favorite TV show,” patrol the backyard, besting BoxMan (a stack of boxes decorated to look like a nasty robot) and TrashMan (old rubber trashcans with mops for eye stalks) and Hose-Nose (an old vacuum cleaner with added eyes) before Stu’s stomach interrupts their play. After a sizable lunch (for Stu at least), Bucky shows Stu a robot he and his uncle Ernie have been working on. Mikanikal Man needs only a power supply to function. With a storm approaching, the boys head inside, planning to find a power pack on the morrow. When Mother Nature spectacularly gives Mikanikal Man life, can our heroes best him? Not until hunger overtakes their foe, when the boys find scary monsters can be super friends (if properly fed). Van Wright follows up When an Alien Meets a Swamp Monster (2014) with another action-packed romp powered by imagination and the boundless energy of boys at play. The watercolor-and-pencil illustrations mimic comics in places, and the mix of fonts conveys the emotions of the boys and their tone of speech as much as their expressive faces do.
Young superhero wannabes will be shouting “Wonk ’em!” in no time. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 28, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-399-16427-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A cheery story that “wool” likely evoke some smiles.
A “baa”-nd of pirates gets the wool pulled over their eyes.
After a treasure-hunting foray, Captain Hoof and his crew of fleecy sheep are homeward bound with a glittery bounty—the lost Golden Shears, which once belonged to the infamous Woolly Jones. Suddenly, huge waves engulf and smash their ship. They’re sheepwrecked and stranded on Foggy Island, home to none other than Woolly Jones. After nearly a month of failed attempts to get off the island, Captain Hoof decides to return the shears to their rightful owner. Trekking across the island through fog as thick and impenetrable as wool, captain and crew eventually bump into their nemesis, who snatches the shears from the captain’s hooves. Expecting dire consequences, everyone starts to flee, but things turn out wool, er, well. In a 90-degree book turn, Woolly is depicted using the shears to give himself a much-needed “woolcut.” He’s grateful for the shears—and for the company after a long, lonely spell. Captain Hoof and crew are delighted at this outcome. This is a cute tale, though the plot is a bit thin; the numerous, amusing sheep puns will appeal more to grown-ups than kids. But the digital illustrations are comical and dynamic, and the all-ovine protagonists are lively and expressive. The book contains lots of typographical creativity, including some onomatopoeic words, incorporated into the artwork, and maps in the endpapers include islands bearing funny, aptly punny names.
A cheery story that “wool” likely evoke some smiles. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: July 9, 2024
ISBN: 9780593569665
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2024
A sweet Runaway Bunny book for the pirate set.
While reading a book about pirates, Danny considers sailing away with them. But what if he wants to come home?
As he reads with his mom, little Danny wonders aloud what it would be like to be a pirate. From the comfort of his couch, his questions persist. “What if I don’t like it on the pirate ship? And I want to come back home?” With steadfast love, his mother answers every “What if…?” with confident answers that reassure the young boy. Danny considers many logical barriers to his rescue, including the dangers of the ocean and the possibility that the friendly pirates may want to keep him. His mother’s answers, however, involve the magical element of a bottle filled with "magic spray." She metaphorically shrinks the problems with a few pumps of a handle. These "Alice in Wonderland" solutions seem unjustified given Danny’s reasonable questions. Luckily, the colorful full-spread illustrations simplify the nonsense and provide a mood of happy security throughout the story. Fortenberry’s playful illustrations freely borrow from cartoon conventions; the adorable Danny expresses no doubts about his security through two little dots for eyes.
A sweet Runaway Bunny book for the pirate set. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2321-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: July 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2011
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