Not just for dog lovers, this intro to hero canines is a breed unto itself.
Published to coincide with the release of the IMAX film of the same name, the book spotlights six dog heroes as they each engage in acts of heroism.
Like something out of an episode of Wild Kratts, the book repeatedly labels various dog breeds’ natural abilities as their “superpowers,” whether it’s the great stamina and supersensitive nose of a Dutch shepherd that sniffs out disaster survivors or the webbed toes of a Newfoundland that saves people from the sea. The book broadens its focus from dogs that save lives to include crime fighters (like the bloodhounds that track poachers in Kenya) and dogs that “help people heal,” like Ricochet, an emotional-support golden retriever. The spare text transitions readers smoothly from dog to dog, retaining interest through crisp photography. Paragraphs of brief, engaging text are highlighted against colored borders, giving the overall design a clear, concise look. Details about dog breeds, abilities, defined terms, and locations appear as bullet points inset where appropriate. Backmatter is limited to a list of dog breeds formatted as trading cards, with “personality,” “superpowers,” and “ideal jobs” specified. The authors eschew further reading or internet resources in lieu of a plug for their IMAX film and website.
Not just for dog lovers, this intro to hero canines is a breed unto itself. (Informational picture book. 7-9)Pub Date: March 5, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-316-45359-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Jan. 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2019
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look...
Winning actually isn’t everything, as jazz-happy Rooster learns when he goes up against the legendary likes of Mules Davis and Ella Finchgerald at the barnyard talent show.
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look good—particularly after his “ ‘Hen from Ipanema’ [makes] / the barnyard chickies swoon.”—but in the end the competition is just too stiff. No matter: A compliment from cool Mules and the conviction that he still has the world’s best band soon puts the strut back in his stride. Alexander’s versifying isn’t always in tune (“So, he went to see his cousin, / a pianist of great fame…”), and despite his moniker Rooster plays an electric bass in Bower’s canted country scenes. Children are unlikely to get most of the jokes liberally sprinkled through the text, of course, so the adults sharing it with them should be ready to consult the backmatter, which consists of closing notes on jazz’s instruments, history and best-known musicians.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-58536-688-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
A nifty high-seas caper for chapter-book readers with a love of adventure and a yearning for treasure.
It’s not truffles but doubloons that tickle this porcine wayfarer’s fancy.
Funke and Meyer make another foray into chapter-book fare after Emma and the Blue Genie (2014). Here, mariner Stout Sam and deckhand Pip eke out a comfortable existence on Butterfly Island ferrying cargo to and fro. Life is good, but it takes an unexpected turn when a barrel washes ashore containing a pig with a skull-and-crossbones pendant around her neck. It soon becomes clear that this little piggy, dubbed Julie, has the ability to sniff out treasure—lots of it—in the sea. The duo is pleased with her skills, but pride goeth before the hog. Stout Sam hands out some baubles to the local children, and his largess attracts the unwanted attention of Barracuda Bill and his nasty minions. Now they’ve pignapped Julie, and it’s up to the intrepid sailors to save the porker and their own bacon. The succinct word count meets the needs of kids looking for early adventure fare. The tale is slight, bouncy, and amusing, though Julie is never the piratical buccaneer the book’s cover seems to suggest. Meanwhile, Meyer’s cheery watercolors are as comfortable diagramming the different parts of a pirate vessel as they are rendering the dread pirate captain himself.
A nifty high-seas caper for chapter-book readers with a love of adventure and a yearning for treasure. (Adventure. 7-9)Pub Date: June 23, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-385-37544-3
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2015
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