by Dan Murphy & Aubrey Plaza ; illustrated by Julia Iredale ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 11, 2022
Strictly for fans of the character’s first outing.
Author Murphy and actor Plaza’s follow-up to The Legend of the Christmas Witch (2021) sees the titular character entering the modern world.
After hundreds of years sleeping in ice, Kristtörn, the Christmas Witch and the sister of Santa Claus, awakens to find she is alone and has lost her magical powers. After walking through a blizzard, she is welcomed indoors by a worker at Kringle Headquarters, a corporation that has replaced Santa Claus. While the Christmas Witch finds a spot to sleep in the woods, a girl named Poppy causes a ruckus at home, ridiculing her brother for believing in Santa. When Poppy discovers Kristtörn in the nearby woods, she leaves food and clothing for her, and Kristtörn leaves her gifts from the natural world in return. But as Kristtörn discovers more upsetting realities of the modern era and recovers her magic, she blames her brother for abandoning Christmas and decides to seek vengeance, making everyone pay. Santa arrives barely in time to stem the tide of his sister’s violent rage and save Christmas. This tale’s commentary on the commercialization of holidays is overshadowed by the destructive woman’s rage, leaving readers to decipher layered messages about capitalism and anger; those unfamiliar with the first book will have an especially hard time doing so. Iredale’s illustrations have a classic fairy-tale feel, with tones of white, brown, and forest green. Kristtörn and Santa are light-skinned; Poppy is tan-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Strictly for fans of the character’s first outing. (Picture book. 5-10)Pub Date: Oct. 11, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35083-6
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022
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by Dan Murphy & Aubrey Plaza ; illustrated by Julia Iredale
by Alice Walstead ; illustrated by Andy Elkerton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 6, 2022
Sugary uplift, shrink-wrapped for the masses.
An elusive new quarry leads the How To Catch… kids on a merry chase through a natural history museum.
Taking at least a step away from the “hunters versus prey” vibe of previous entries in the popular series, the racially diverse group of young visitors dashes through various museum halls in pursuit of the eponymous dino—whose quest to “spread kindness and joy ’round the world” takes the form of a mildly tumultuous museum tour. In most of Elkerton’s overly sweet, color-saturated scenes, only portions of the Loveosaurus, who is purple and covered with pink hearts, are visible behind exhibits or lumbering off the page. But the children find small enticements left behind, from craft supplies to make cards for endangered species to pictures of smiley faces, candy heart–style personal notes (“You Rock!” “Give Hugs”), and, in the hall of medieval arms and armor, a sign urging them to “Be Honest Be Kind.” The somewhat heavy-handed lesson comes through loud and clear. “There’s a message, he wants us to think,” hints Walstead to clue in more obtuse readers…and concluding scenes of smiling people young and otherwise exchanging hugs and knuckle bumps, holding doors for a wheelchair rider, and dancing through clouds of sparkles indicate that they, at least, have gotten it. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Sugary uplift, shrink-wrapped for the masses. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
ISBN: 9781728268781
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Jan. 17, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2023
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More In The Series
by Alice Walstead ; illustrated by Andy Elkerton
by Alice Walstead ; illustrated by Andy Elkerton
by Alice Walstead ; illustrated by Andy Elkerton
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by Alice Walstead ; illustrated by Paul Gill
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by Alice Walstead ; illustrated by Andy Elkerton
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by Alice Walstead ; illustrated by Paul Gill
by Caryn Yacowitz ; illustrated by David Slonim ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 26, 2014
Fun, in an odd sort of way.
The old folk song is given a Hanukkah spin in a parody that blends Jewish tradition with art appreciation.
The kerchiefed grandma swallows a tiny dreidel placed atop her cream-cheesed bagel by the family cat, setting off the familiar chain of events. She swallows the oil, the latkes, 10 barrels of applesauce, a 20-ton brisket, a “mine full of gelt, before it could melt,” the menorah and candles until she is finally full. A large burp makes her feel better. The silliness, cadence and rhythm of the verse all work with the original tune; it can be a tongue twister at times but will keep kids engaged. “I know an old lady who swallowed a menorah— / A mountainous menorah, while we danced the hora.” Acrylic-based drawings using charcoal, pen and pencil place this bubbe in various scenes taken from classical paintings, providing an educational twist. She appears in comical versions of Munch’s The Scream and Vermeer’s The Milkmaid. The applesauce in a red-and-white can spoofs Andy Warhol’s Campbell Soup Cans, and the menorah is set against the background of van Gogh’s The Starry Night. Adults will see the humor but might wonder about the artist’s point in his note stating that “a new look at famous works of art seemed like the perfect way to help people of all backgrounds enjoy this fresh take on an ancient holiday.”
Fun, in an odd sort of way. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-439-91530-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Levine/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2014
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by Caryn Yacowitz ; illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
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by Caryn Yacowitz ; illustrated by Julie Downing
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by Caryn Yacowitz & illustrated by Joe Cepeda
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