Pure fun and proof that kids can sometimes be monsters, but we (usually) wouldn’t have it any other way.
Mohiuddin pays homage to the loving bond between parent and child.
A “wee wolf” and its mother—a literal mummy—frolic at night. Awakening from a “good day’s sleep,” they rise from their casket bed. Wolf helps Mummy prepare lunch: midnight stew, filled with bones and eyeballs. “I try to be a perfectly well-behaved monster for Mummy,” Wolf tells us. “I use my indoor voice. I have excellent table manners.” (The rollicking illustrations clearly reveal otherwise.) Like all kids and parents, Wolf and Mummy do have fractious moments, but music soothes their conflicts. Finally, at dawn, Mummy announces that it’s bedtime. Time to clean up messes, brush teeth, and bathe. Naturally, Mummy reads Wolf a story: Hairy Tales. Wolf falls asleep knowing that no matter what, Mummy will always be there, providing love and support. Wolf wants to be just like Mummy one day “and do all of the most Mummy things there are to do.” And on nights when she’s “feeling a little undone…I will always be there, too.” This sweet, knowing, tongue-in-cheek nod to a genuinely loving parent-child relationship, written from the youngster’s perspective, will leave readers smiling. The real draw is the crisp, dynamic artwork, filled with very witty, nonfrightening yet monstrous details. Wolf is endearing; Mummy is very loosely bandaged and has yellow, glowing eyes.
Pure fun and proof that kids can sometimes be monsters, but we (usually) wouldn’t have it any other way. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 27, 2024
ISBN: 9781771475952
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available.
A ghost learns to appreciate his differences.
The little ghost protagonist of this title is unusual. He’s a quilt, not a lightweight sheet like his parents and friends. He dislikes being different despite his mom’s reassurance that his ancestors also had unconventional appearances. Halloween makes the little ghost happy, though. He decides to watch trick-or-treaters by draping over a porch chair—but lands on a porch rail instead. A mom accompanying her daughter picks him up, wraps him around her chilly daughter, and brings him home with them! The family likes his looks and comforting warmth, and the little ghost immediately feels better about himself. As soon as he’s able to, he flies out through the chimney and muses happily that this adventure happened only due to his being a quilt. This odd but gently told story conveys the importance of self-respect and acceptance of one’s uniqueness. The delivery of this positive message has something of a heavy-handed feel and is rushed besides. It also isn’t entirely logical: The protagonist could have been a different type of covering; a blanket, for instance, might have enjoyed an identical experience. The soft, pleasing illustrations’ palette of tans, grays, white, black, some touches of color, and, occasionally, white text against black backgrounds suggest isolation, such as the ghost feels about himself. Most humans, including the trick-or-treating mom and daughter, have beige skin. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-16.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 66.2% of actual size.)
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7352-6447-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
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