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MR. PUTTER AND TABBY PICK THE PEARS

From Rylant (Dog Heaven, p. 951, etc.), a fourth pairing of good-natured Mr. Putter and sidekick Tabby. The old cat has a cranky tail that's too stiff to swish and the old man has cranky legs that can't get up a ladder. Unable to get to his juicy pears for some yearned-for pear jelly, Mr. Putter rigs a slingshot out of underwear elastic and``ZING!!!!!''fires off a fallen apple. Instead of knocking a pear off the tree, it whizzes over his rooftop and out of sight. Delighted with his ``jiffy arms,'' Mr. Putter forgets all about the pears, and zings into the night. The next day, neighborly Mrs. Teaberry reaps an unexpected bounty (``I don't even have an apple tree!'') and surprises Mr. Putter with feast of apple preparations. A funny, easy-going beginning reader, with quirky, always affectionate, cartoons. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1995

ISBN: 0-15-200245-6

Page Count: 44

Publisher: Harcourt

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1995

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NOPE

Full of humor and action, with easily recognizable emotions.

A nearly wordless graphic picture book illustrates the angst of a fledgling whose parent is determined to see it take its first flight.

The double-page spread encompassing the title page shows a small, comical bird sitting in a nest of twigs, dubiously eyeing a larger bird who flies above it with a facial expression of avian bliss. There follows a series of panels that show long-distance views of the larger bird gracefully landing in the nest occupied by, apparently, its progeny. The next double-page spread shows a single aerial view, with the little bird gazing far down to the earth. On the ensuing pages, the little bird exhibits high anxiety and clings to its parent with a large speech bubble that proclaims the titular “NOPE!” Over the course of the book, the little one—through pastel-tinged images in thought bubbles—imagines all the possible terrors it may encounter venturing from the nest, while its parent continues to encourage it to leave. There are occasional sound-effect words, such as “shake” and “flap,” and there is a full page of “no” in several different languages. Most of the story is told exclusively with the funny facial expressions and body language of two birds at cross purposes. The simple message is clear, and the humorous animals are foregrounded against pretty green and blue watercolor settings. Naturally, “nope” eventually changes to “yep.”

Full of humor and action, with easily recognizable emotions. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: Jan. 17, 2017

ISBN: 978-1-101-99731-4

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: Aug. 29, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2016

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GLAMOURPUSS

Sophisticated vocabulary and pop-culture references may well fly over the heads of children, making this fizzy, exuberant...

A lighthearted twist on the traditional antagonism between cats and dogs takes place in an over-the-top upper-crust world.

Weeks includes several nods to fairy-tale conventions in her slyly amusing text. The saga begins “Once upon a pillow,” and the eponymous heroine turns to her mirror for confirmation that she is the “most glamorous of all.” Meanwhile, classic films are clearly the inspiration for Small. Created with ink, watercolor, pastel and collage, illustrations include a flat-screen TV showing Theda Bara as Cleopatra, a scrawny Chihuahua with Shirley Temple, Carmen Miranda and Scarlett O’Hara costumes, and a setting that evokes the glamour of old Hollywood. Bluebelle, the dog, is a visitor in the home of Glamourpuss’ owners and, in the cat’s eyes at least, a rival for their affections. Well-pleased with her luxurious lifestyle, cheerfully cataloged in scratchy, energetic artwork, Glamourpuss tries her best to sabotage Bluebelle. While her efforts don’t pan out, and the dog definitely has her day, young listeners will likely be pleased with the (not entirely) unexpected rapprochement between the two pets.

Sophisticated vocabulary and pop-culture references may well fly over the heads of children, making this fizzy, exuberant entertainment a treat that is best shared by an adult with a penchant for screwball comedy. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-545-60954-8

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Scholastic

Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2014

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