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THIS IS NOT A CAT!

A stale, unfunny tale of duped mice unprepared for a world with predators

Is the cat really a cat?

A large rat lurks behind a tree, spying on three anthropomorphic mice children as they scamper to their one-room schoolhouse, each carrying a block of cheese for their teacher. As the teacher instructs them in “Today’s Lesson: Recognizing DANGER”—in this case, recognizing cats—the students look respectively bored, surprised, and worried. Only several beats after the figure of a cat creeps through the window of the schoolroom does the teacher relinquish the lesson to chaos, shouting “A CAT!” and fleeing the scene in distress along with the students. As the “cat” turns its zippered back to readers, the text asks a good question: “IS this a cat?” Readers who remember the rat will know the answer. Only when an actual cat makes a cameo at the end is there any hint of a true surprise, but it is unclear if readers are meant to laugh at or be alarmed by the implication that the cat has consumed the rat, who only ever wanted cheese in the first place. The clear lines, bright colors, and cartoonish feel of the illustrations may appeal to at least some of the book’s intended audience, but the gag is both drawn out too long and not particularly funny. Moreover, for readers who must endure heightened school security against violent intruders, the attempt at comedy may fall particularly flat.

A stale, unfunny tale of duped mice unprepared for a world with predators . (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-4549-1574-4

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Sterling

Review Posted Online: June 27, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2016

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THE VERY BEST HUG

A delightfully silly celebration of familial love.

A child in search of the best hugger takes a bedtime tour of the world’s most unusual embraces.

In the opening pages of this rhyming picture book, an unnamed narrator asks a curly-haired, tan-skinned child who they think gives the best hugs. At the narrator’s behest, the protagonist spends their bedtime routine receiving affection from a wacky cast of creatures, ranging from meerkats to porcupines to narwhals. These animals have a variety of body types, but even those with a lack of limbs still express their love; the seahorse, for example, gives the child a “smooch” right before bathtime, and a grinning cobra offers the child a “clinch,” wrapping itself around their leg. Although many of the animals prove to be more prickly than cozy—the narrator points out, for example, the sharpness of bird beaks and porcupine quills—even the snuggliest koalas and bears cannot compare to the best hug of all: a parent’s embrace right before bedtime. The use of second-person address combined with the protagonist’s beautifully illustrated facial expressions and the buoyant, clever lines of verse render this book a hilarious and whimsical ride sure to delight both children and the adults who read to them. The pictures and text work together to create a clear narrative arc for the protagonist, and though the ending is a bit predictable, it’s nevertheless a wonderful payoff. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A delightfully silly celebration of familial love. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Jan. 24, 2023

ISBN: 978-1-5476-1236-9

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022

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I AM A PEACEFUL GOLDFISH

A soothing, logical, and playful introduction to mindfulness for young listeners.

What can you do when things go wrong?

Two children contemplate different ways to calm themselves down in this straightforward introduction to breathing, relaxation, and mindfulness. The younger, White-presenting child follows suit when the older, brown-skinned child proposes imaginative calming techniques. They picture themselves as various animals (goldfish, elephants, dragons) and objects (pinwheels, dandelions, wind chimes, flowers), inhaling and exhaling, that make deep breathing and calming down concrete and easy to comprehend. Simplified, whimsical illustrations add a touch of humor and a wink to the 1970s while preventing the story from becoming cloying, as soft, gentle instructions help the characters (and listeners) to understand some of the mechanics behind how to intentionally breathe and decompress. While not necessarily something that children will pick up unless they are learning about practicing mindfulness, this informative title has charm and warmth and will give youngsters some ideas as to how to self-regulate and manage their feelings as they learn to be aware of their breathing. Endpapers feature a multiracial array of children’s faces expressing different emotions.

A soothing, logical, and playful introduction to mindfulness for young listeners. (author's note) (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: April 13, 2021

ISBN: 978-1-77164-637-6

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Greystone Kids

Review Posted Online: Jan. 26, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2021

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