A lively fable for teaching youngsters about teamwork.
Wild animals struggle to live in harmony in Tripps’ illustrated children’s book, inspired by an African folktale.
Earth, in the beginning, is lush with foliage, the air sweetly scented with mango and papaya. It would be idyllic, if only the creatures inhabiting it could get along. Instead, the cheetahs frighten the antelope, the lemurs devour the chimpanzees’ bananas, and the leopards steal the okapis’ shelter. Displeased, The Great Spirit summons the creatures—wildebeests, jackals, hippos, warthogs, and giraffes among them—and tells them that whoever retrieves a gourd from a high stack of branches will unlock the key to life and lead the other animals. Many are convinced they’ll claim the title. “Oh surely, I am the one to be ruler,” claims the hornbill, for instance. However, when lightning ignites the branches, many retreat. Using his mighty strength, the woolly elephant attempts to stomp out the flames, but burns his fur; only the hair on his tail remains. Next, the daring monkey climbs the burning heap; she, too, fails, scarring her hands, feet, and face. Convinced his river-damp skin will protect him, the crocodile smashes burning logs with his tail; his body catches fire, blistering all over. These animals’ enduring characteristics are said to be reminders of their foolishness. The group finds hope when Muntu—an unfamiliar human figure—appears and says they must work together to know peace. Over the course of the book—whose story is inspired by a tale that Tripps heard from village griots in the 1970s, when he was working in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo)—Tripps effectively uses clear, straightforward language to emphasize the importance of unity and wisely using one’s unique strengths. However, some readers may perceive the message of a human being the animals’ savior as problematic. Martinez offers a series of vibrant, full-page illustrations in earth tones, pinks, and blues, and these images successfully enrich the story; the detailed portrayals of various animals pop against the leafy background. At the same time, though, the heavy, white text tends to overwhelm the pages.
A lively fable for teaching youngsters about teamwork.Pub Date: Nov. 11, 2024
ISBN: 9781644460160
Page Count: 34
Publisher: Rowe Publishing
Review Posted Online: March 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among
Pete, the cat who couldn’t care less, celebrates Christmas with his inimitable lassitude.
If it weren’t part of the title and repeated on every other page, readers unfamiliar with Pete’s shtick might have a hard time arriving at “groovy” to describe his Christmas celebration, as the expressionless cat displays not a hint of groove in Dean’s now-trademark illustrations. Nor does Pete have a great sense of scansion: “On the first day of Christmas, / Pete gave to me… / A road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” The cat is shown at the wheel of a yellow microbus strung with garland and lights and with a star-topped tree tied to its roof. On the second day of Christmas Pete gives “me” (here depicted as a gray squirrel who gets on the bus) “2 fuzzy gloves, and a road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” On the third day, he gives “me” (now a white cat who joins Pete and the squirrel) “3 yummy cupcakes,” etc. The “me” mentioned in the lyrics changes from day to day and gift to gift, with “4 far-out surfboards” (a frog), “5 onion rings” (crocodile), and “6 skateboards rolling” (a yellow bird that shares its skateboards with the white cat, the squirrel, the frog, and the crocodile while Pete drives on). Gifts and animals pile on until the microbus finally arrives at the seaside and readers are told yet again that it’s all “GROOVY!”
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among . (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-267527-9
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Nothing new here but a nonetheless congenial matriculant in publishing’s autumnal rite of back-to-school offerings.
The Crayons head back to class in this latest series entry.
Daywalt’s expository text lays out the basics as various Crayons wave goodbye to the beach, choose a first-day outfit, greet old friends, and make new ones. As in previous outings, the perennially droll illustrations and hand-lettered Crayon-speak drive the humor. The ever wrapperless Peach, opining, “What am I going to wear?” surveys three options: top hat and tails, a chef’s toque and apron, and a Santa suit. New friends Chunky Toddler Crayon (who’s missing a bite-sized bit of their blue point) and Husky Toddler Crayon speculate excitedly on their common last name: “I wonder if we’re related!” White Crayon, all but disappearing against the page’s copious white space, sits cross-legged reading a copy of H.G. Wells’ The Invisible Man. And Yellow and Orange, notable for their previous existential argument about the color of the sun, find agreement in science class: Jupiter, clearly, is yellow AND orange. Everybody’s excited about art class—“Even if they make a mess. Actually…ESPECIALLY if they make a mess!” Here, a spread of crayoned doodles of butterflies, hearts, and stars is followed by one with fulsome scribbles. Fans of previous outings will spot cameos from Glow in the Dark and yellow-caped Esteban (the Crayon formerly known as Pea Green). (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nothing new here but a nonetheless congenial matriculant in publishing’s autumnal rite of back-to-school offerings. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: May 16, 2023
ISBN: 9780593621110
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
