A lengthy but charmingly illustrated tale of friendship.
A kind squirrel helps a lonely muskrat in this picture-book sequel.
One day, Hazel, a squirrel, sneaks out to the marsh and stumbles into the water. She is rescued by a muskrat named Malcolm, who lives alone, having “lost my family.” Hazel and Malcolm become friends; she and her father give the muskrat some furniture to “turn his workaday lodge into a real home.” Malcolm tells Hazel that he was separated from his family during a tornado. While attending a Jamboree for her group Treetop Girls, Hazel enlists members in a hunt for Malcolm’s family. She even seeks help from Almond, a pesky “newbie.” Hazel hopes the Treetop Girls will send her letters about their searches, but not one “reported a muskrat family missing a son.” Hazel becomes annoyed by the countless letters she receives from Almond and stops opening them. Months later, Malcolm is greeted by his family, thanks to Almond’s efforts. Hazel discovers Almond tried to update her in the letters. While Toht reveals the two squirrels become “fast friends,” it would have been intriguing to see how the dynamic progressed after Hazel realized her blunder. The picture book’s atypically long text makes this story better suited for kids with chapter book–level reading abilities. Still, the illustrations are delightful. The author excels in the critters’ depictions, juxtaposing serene nature backdrops with clever details like anthropomorphized living spaces and an up-close, colorful image of Treetop Girls badges.
A lengthy but charmingly illustrated tale of friendship.Pub Date: July 8, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-578-70790-7
Page Count: 39
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Aug. 12, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Perfect for those looking for a scary Halloween tale that won’t leave them with more fears than they started with. Pair with...
Reynolds and Brown have crafted a Halloween tale that balances a really spooky premise with the hilarity that accompanies any mention of underwear.
Jasper Rabbit needs new underwear. Plain White satisfies him until he spies them: “Creepy underwear! So creepy! So comfy! They were glorious.” The underwear of his dreams is a pair of radioactive-green briefs with a Frankenstein face on the front, the green color standing out all the more due to Brown’s choice to do the entire book in grayscale save for the underwear’s glowing green…and glow they do, as Jasper soon discovers. Despite his “I’m a big rabbit” assertion, that glow creeps him out, so he stuffs them in the hamper and dons Plain White. In the morning, though, he’s wearing green! He goes to increasing lengths to get rid of the glowing menace, but they don’t stay gone. It’s only when Jasper finally admits to himself that maybe he’s not such a big rabbit after all that he thinks of a clever solution to his fear of the dark. Brown’s illustrations keep the backgrounds and details simple so readers focus on Jasper’s every emotion, writ large on his expressive face. And careful observers will note that the underwear’s expression also changes, adding a bit more creep to the tale.
Perfect for those looking for a scary Halloween tale that won’t leave them with more fears than they started with. Pair with Dr. Seuss’ tale of animate, empty pants. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Aug. 22, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0298-0
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
Say hello to a relatable and rewarding early reader!
Fun with friends makes for a great day.
Norbit, a salmon-colored worm with a pink kerchief, joyfully greets the day and everyone he encounters. “Hello, friends! It’s time for fun with the sun! Let’s play!” He and his menagerie of forest pals—including the sun, who grows limbs and descends from the sky—exuberantly engage in various forms of physical activity such as jumping, going down a slide, spinning around, and watching the clouds go by. Young readers will readily relate, as these are games that most children are familiar with. As day turns to night, Norbit says farewell to Sun and welcomes Moon with an invitation to continue the fun. Watkins has created a vivid world of movement and merriment. Her illustrations feature bright bursts of color that match the energy of the text, with most sentences ending in an exclamation point. The author/illustrator incorporates many elements that make for an ideal early-reading experience (despite the use of a contraction or two): art free from clutter, text consisting of words with only one or two syllables, and repetition and recurring bits, such as a continued game of hide-and-seek with Sun. Inspired by never-before-seen sketches from the Dr. Seuss Collection archives at the University of California San Diego, this is the first title for Seuss Studios, a new imprint for original stories from “emerging authors and illustrators” who “honor Seuss’s hallmark spirit of creativity and imagination.”
Say hello to a relatable and rewarding early reader! (author's note) (Early reader. 5-8)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9780593646212
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Seuss Studios
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
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