A charming tale of adventure and friendship.
Petey, a lovable, hardworking donkey, goes for a wild ride in this illustrated debut children’s book.
At the real-life C Lazy U Ranch in Colorado, Petey the Sicilian donkey has a pretty good life. He loves everything about his job, which includes celebrating opening day for the Colorado Rockies baseball team, greeting children and giving them cart rides, hanging out with the horses in pasture, carrying packs and tents for campers, and mostly just lazing about on his 8,500-acre home. Petey introduces readers to everything that goes on at the C Lazy U Ranch, from how the guests spend their days at the spa (Petey makes an appearance soaking in a copper tub) to how he helps protect the horses from coyotes that threaten them at pasture. When walking with the horses one day, Petey is swept into a strong river current: how will he stop himself from being carried off and away from C Lazy U Ranch? Craig’s debut is an exciting mix of education and fiction. Petey, who has a pretty busy life for such a docile creature, explains what he does on the ranch and how the whole enterprise runs—a stimulating lesson for kids and adults alike who are intrigued by horses, cowboys, and ranch life. The adventure comes into play when Petey is washed down the river and eventually saved by his pal Wolf. Both parts are enjoyable, but the story would have benefited from both strands getting equal space. As is, the educational section greatly outweighs the misadventure, so the pacing is a bit off. Petey and Wolf’s real-life friendship is heartwarming, and kids and adults alike are sure to enjoy the unlikely pairing of a short donkey and a graceful horse. Pendleton’s illustrations are delightful: Petey is one cute donkey, and the images are inspired by the real C Lazy U Ranch in Colorado, about 90 miles outside of Denver. Kids might be eager to book a trip so they can meet the book’s sweet protagonist in person.
A charming tale of adventure and friendship.Pub Date: April 28, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-615-96247-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: The C Lazy U Ranch
Review Posted Online: Aug. 21, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2015
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A nice but not requisite purchase.
A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.
Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.
A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
More gift book than storybook, this is a meaningful addition to nursery bookshelves
A young child explores the unlimited potential inherent in all humans.
“Have you ever wondered why you are here?” asks the second-person narration. There is no one like you. Maybe you’re here to make a difference with your uniqueness; maybe you will speak for those who can’t or use your gifts to shine a light into the darkness. The no-frills, unrhymed narrative encourages readers to follow their hearts and tap into their limitless potential to be anything and do anything. The precisely inked and colored artwork plays with perspective from the first double-page spread, in which the child contemplates a mountain (or maybe an iceberg) in their hands. Later, they stand on a ladder to place white spots on tall, red mushrooms. The oversized flora and fauna seem to symbolize the presumptively insurmountable, reinforcing the book’s message that anything is possible. This quiet read, with its sophisticated central question, encourages children to reach for their untapped potential while reminding them it won’t be easy—they will make messes and mistakes—but the magic within can help overcome falls and failures. It’s unlikely that members of the intended audience have begun to wonder about their life’s purpose, but this life-affirming mood piece has honorable intentions. The child, accompanied by an adorable piglet and sporting overalls and a bird-beaked cap made of leaves, presents white.
More gift book than storybook, this is a meaningful addition to nursery bookshelves . (Picture book. 2-8)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-946873-75-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: May 21, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2019
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