The first in a planned eight-book series, Rylant and Biggs’s collaboration heralds a feline-human connection worthy of comparison to Mr. Putter and Tabby. It’s a good thing that cats are invited to the birthday party when Brownie and her pet Pearl step out, because Brownie is too shy to knock when she arrives at the door. Then Pearl slips through the kitty door, encouraging Brownie to muster up the courage to go inside. A warm welcome, party games, cake, ice cream and “more ice cream” (the second helping claiming its own page opening with a messy-faced, rather queasy-looking Brownie) await her. Digitally produced cartoon-like artwork at times attends to background details and at other times effectively focuses solely on characters to highlight emotions and actions. While this picture book could work well as a read-aloud, its controlled text and uncluttered artwork also opens it up to beginning-reader–book status. Readers of all sorts will look forward to the next time Pearl and Brownie step out together. (Picture book/early reader. 3-6)
Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4169-8632-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2009
An engaging story arguing for the marriage of technology with creativity and play.
A young girl receives a puzzling gift.
Young Charlotte has always been the most tech-savvy member of her family, helping her mother with a tablet and her father with the smart TV. After Charlotte’s parents observe a news report cautioning against letting kids get “too techy,” the couple presents Charlotte with a doll. The doll doesn’t move or think—it simply sits and utters the word “Ma-ma.” Charlotte reasons that for a doll to talk it must have a power supply, and with a few modifications and a little imagination, Charlotte’s doll becomes Doll-E 1.0. The STEM-friendly narrative is brought to life with charming pencil-and-watercolor illustrations, edited in Photoshop. The scratchy lines are reminiscent of the pictures children like Charlotte sketch at their drawing boards, and the dynamic compositions burst with energy. Charlotte is an engaging character, expressive and thoughtful in equal measure. Charlotte’s doll is adorably rendered, looking mostly like any other common doll but just unique enough that little ones may want one of their own. Charlotte and her family present white; little dog Bluetooth is a scruffy, white terrier.
An engaging story arguing for the marriage of technology with creativity and play. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-51031-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A winning tale about finding new friends.
Bear finds a wonderful toy.
Bear clearly loves the toy bunny that he has found sitting up against a tree in the forest, but he wants to help it return to its home. With a wagon full of fliers and the bunny secure in Bear’s backpack, he festoons the trees with posters and checks out a bulletin board filled with lost and found objects (some of which will bring a chuckle to adult readers). Alas, he returns home still worried about bunny. The following day, they happily play together and ride Bear’s tricycle. Into the cozy little picture steps Moose, who immediately recognizes his bunny, named Floppy. Bear has a tear in his eye as he watches Moose and Floppy hug. But Moose, wearing a tie, is clearly grown and knows that it is time to share and that Bear will take very good care of his Floppy. Yoon’s story is sweet without being sentimental. She uses digitized artwork in saturated colors to create a lovely little world for her animals. They are outlined in strong black lines and stand out against the yellows, blues, greens and oranges of the background. She also uses space to great effect, allowing readers to feel the emotional tug of the story.
A winning tale about finding new friends. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-8027-3559-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Feb. 18, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2014
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