A creative ode to imaginative play with familiar characters.
Preschool monster twins devise a play in this latest series entry.
As they prepare for an overnight visit with Granny, siblings Natalie (who’s red) and Alphonse (who’s blue) each pack the necessities. After a rainy walk to Granny’s with their parents, the youngsters greet the treasure box, funny clock, and “bump bump bump bump stairs” they so love. Mom and Dad say goodbye so they can have a night at the theater. The siblings initially feel left out until Natalie gets the bright idea to collaborate with Alphonse on their own DIY show. Alphonse is skeptical at first, but the promise of yogurt with sprinkles at intermission seals the deal. Relying on various household objects, the duo assume the roles of Little Lost Bear and All the Frogs and practice and practice. But rehearsal doesn’t go according to plan, and sibling spats ensue. With Granny’s encouragement, they decide to wait until tomorrow so Mom and Dad can see the show, too. Surprise, surprise: Rest and a larger audience make the performance a smashing success! Hirst’s trademark bold, screen-printed illustrations accentuate this child-friendly tale. Comic panels cleverly abridge the rehearsal process into spot-on dialogue, allowing the siblings’ personalities—and disagreements—to hilariously shine through. As an added touch, endpapers depict hand-drawn posters that suggest the siblings have produced many plays since.
A creative ode to imaginative play with familiar characters. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 22, 2024
ISBN: 9781536238891
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school...
The familiar theme of the challenges facing a new kid in town is given an original treatment by photographer Border in this book of photos of three-dimensional objects in a simple modeled landscape.
Peanut Butter is represented by a slice of white bread spread with the popular condiment. The other characters in the story—a hamburger with a pair of hot dogs in tow, a bowl of alphabet soup, a meatball jumping a rope of spaghetti, a carton of French fries and a pink cupcake—are represented by skillfully crafted models of these foods, anthropomorphized using simple wire construction. Rejected by each character in turn in his search for playmates, Peanut Butter discovers in the end that Jelly is his true match (not Cupcake, as the title suggests), perhaps because she is the only one who looks like him, being a slice of white bread spread with jelly. The friendly foods end up happily playing soccer together. Some parents may have trouble with the unabashedly happy depiction of carbs and American junk food (no carrots or celery sticks in this landscape), and others may find themselves troubled by the implication that friendship across difference is impossible.
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school experiences. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: July 29, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-399-16773-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2014
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series.
Another creature is on the loose.
The long-running series continues its successful formula with this Hallmark card of a book, which features bright illustrations and catchy rhymes. This time, the mythical creature the racially diverse children set out to catch is an absent mom who does it all (lists of descriptors include the words banker, caregiver, nurse, doctor, driver, chef, housekeeper, teacher, entertainer, playmate, laundry service, problem solver, handywoman, cleaner, and alarm clock) but doesn’t seem to have a job outside the home and is inexplicably a dinosaur. As the children prepare gifts and a meal for her, the text becomes an ode to the skills the Mamasaurus possesses (“Day or night she’s always there. / She meets every wish and need”) and values she instills (“Sometimes life can mean hard work,” “kindness matters,” and “what counts is doing your best”). This well-intentioned selection veers into cliche generously sprinkled with saccharine but manages to redeem itself with its appreciation for mothers and all that they may do. Endpapers include a “to” and “from” page framed in a heart, as well as a page where young gift givers or recipients can draw a picture of their Mamasaurus.
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781728274300
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
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