Cute concept; readers’ mileage may vary.
Chair just wants “to be in on the game."
Every night before bed, Vivi, a brown-skinned girl with puffy pigtails, and Monkey, a child-sized stuffed animal, play a game. Monkey hides in plain sight under a blanket, Vivi pretends to look everywhere for Monkey, Vivi questions the witnesses: Chair, Plant, Kettle, and Cat. Chair is the only witness who cares about the game. But the role of witness is not enough for Chair. Chair loves Vivi and wants to be more involved. But night after night, Monkey comes out of hiding, and the pair leaves Chair sleepless and jealous. One night, Chair decides that if Monkey needed a bath—say, if some juice were spilled on Monkey—then Chair could take Monkey’s place. But the plan backfires. When Monkey doesn’t turn up, Vivi only looks harder for Monkey and becomes upset with Chair when Vivi realizes Chair had a hand in the disappearance. But all ends well when Vivi comes to understand Chair’s intentions. Vivi is easily seen as a beloved adult, with Chair as a misunderstood, childlike character who just wants some attention, making this story a clever representation of all-too-real feelings of the young. Bright, expressive illustrations add to the chuckleworthy drama. There are some off notes: Plant’s falling “in love” with Cat is an odd touch for this age group, and the Monkey-as-peer is rather unsettling both conceptually and visually. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9.8-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 71.8% of actual size.)
Cute concept; readers’ mileage may vary. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 27, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-77306-246-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Groundwood
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
Mr. Fish’s fans can chase away any holiday “dreary-wearies” with this latest entry in the series, though it’s more likely to...
The perennially popular pout-pout fish is back with a new problem: how to find perfect gifts for all his friends.
Mr. Fish wears a “yuletide pout” in this holiday season because of his extensive shopping expectations. He wants his gifts to have “bling-zing,” to be big, bright, and perfect, “guaranteed to bring delight.” He shops till he plops but leaves the mall empty-handed “in a bout of pout-doubt.” His wise friend Miss Shimmer saves the day, with lots of craft supplies and advice about how to make his own presents “with his very own fins!” Mr. Fish finds that his simple, handmade gifts do meet his high expectations and that the camaraderie and goodwill shared with friends are the really meaningful gifts of the season. In addition to the wordplay, the text offers a calming, sensible approach to holiday gift giving with reinforcement of the value of handmade gifts. Hanna’s detailed illustrations of Mr. Fish’s watery world are filled with funny details, as when the sea creatures all hold one another’s tentacles as they celebrate the holiday. A holiday highlight is the arrival of Manta Claus, pulled in his sleigh by sea horses, of course.
Mr. Fish’s fans can chase away any holiday “dreary-wearies” with this latest entry in the series, though it’s more likely to be adults who face the holiday shopping quandary than children. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-374-35549-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Young children acquainted with the pleasure of conspiring to annoy an older child and those who've suffered the indignity of...
Here's Little Puffin, minding his own business and enjoying a walk when a trio of impish gull chicks turn up and start mimicking his every move.
How can he stop Small Gull, Tiny Gull and Baby Gull from annoying him? He tries to scare them and outrun them before he finally tries to turn the tables on them by sitting very still. The little ones eventually fidget from boredom and walk away. But when Little Puffin moves on, it starts all over again. The creator of the Baby Owl books (I'm Not Scared!, 2007, etc.), captures both the playful spirit and the exasperation of this familiar game with clean, bold lines and clear colors against a white background. The game begins on the cover with "Don't Copy Me!" in large, fire-engine–red letters echoed by soft shading. There's a stern, no-nonsense look on Little Puffin's face as he towers over the little gulls, whose eager expressions show just how unperturbed they are. There's plenty of humor in the pacing of the predictable text, uncluttered pages and Allen's appealingly fluffy, wide-eyed birds.
Young children acquainted with the pleasure of conspiring to annoy an older child and those who've suffered the indignity of being made fun of will enjoy seeing just who outsmarts whom. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-907967-20-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Boxer Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 28, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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