Adults may be impressed with the packed pages of this picture book, but toddlers will most likely love its multicolored,...
A hippo travels through a Seussian dreamland in this colorfully illustrated, silly bedtime story for young readers.
In this bedtime romp, pediatric emergency physician Nager (Angels in Action, 2010) teams with debut author Leon and artist Trujillo to introduce a hippo who dreams of crazy animals and wacky machines. When hippo Hoopy Doopy goes to bed, his real adventures begin. After several pages celebrating the wondrous land that fills Hoopy’s dreams, a fun two-page spread with a numeric countdown welcomes readers into dreamland. Full of ice cream, spotted elephants, airplanes with popcorn for wings and cotton candy clouds, Hoopy’s dreams are presented as a list of absurd items that rhyme. There is no plot here, just a series of goofy ideas that may give readers a giggle. The rhyme pattern is solidly presented, and the meter is strong. The illustrations occasionally look like a blend of Dr. Seuss-like images, such as the purple pigs in a yellow tree, with clip art. Trujillo repeats some images identically—Hoopy appears in bed in the first image, with a full repeat of the same on the last page, and clips of a portion of the image occur elsewhere in the book. During the dream sequences, the many unique ideas and creatures featured clutter the illustrations and don’t give children time to dwell on any particular strange animal. Still, the fun factor, absurd humor and bright colors should appeal to young readers.
Adults may be impressed with the packed pages of this picture book, but toddlers will most likely love its multicolored, imaginary animals.Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2013
ISBN: 978-0615793238
Page Count: 26
Publisher: CHLA
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A fun middle-grade novel with a winning protagonist and a charming setting.
In Stephens’ (Some Act of Vision, 2016, etc.) first middle-grade novel, a fifth-grader can’t wait to go to Adventure Camp with his classmates, but staying overnight might be a problem—because he still wets the bed.
Young Texan Pierre François loves Minecraft, hanging out with his best friends Max and Bo, and listening to his French father tell jokes. But he desperately wants to overcome his bed-wetting habit, and although doctors have tried numerous remedies, from using “big-boy diapers” to wearing special hooks on his pajamas, nothing has worked. When he soaks his sheets during a sleepover at Max’s house, he surreptitiously stuffs the sheets in the washing machine and pretends that nothing happened. Unfortunately, Pierre can’t hide his secret for much longer, as a class trip to Adventure Camp is coming up. During the trip, he bunks with Max and Max’s father; although they have to share their cabin with the school bully, they all get to enjoy canoeing, eating new foods, and searching for wildlife. But just when everything is looking up, Pierre wakes up to a soaked sleeping bag. What’s a kid to do? Stephens crafts a well-realized school environment, replete with friends, bullies, and caring teachers. Pierre’s first-person narration has a sincere tone, and his antics are sometimes reminiscent of those in Pierre’s favorite comic strip, Bill Watterson’s “Calvin and Hobbes.” Debut illustrator Yokochi provides simple images to highlight larger events, in a style similar to that in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Big Nate series; however, the pictures aren’t the focus of the book’s humor. Pierre’s bed-wetting angst is the book’s major theme, but Stephens also focuses on Pierre’s smaller victories, such as staying up late with a friend to play video games or realizing that the girl he likes knows his name. This lends the book a slow-paced, slice-of-life feel as readers come to know and appreciate Pierre’s world, and the resolution is both believable and satisfying.
A fun middle-grade novel with a winning protagonist and a charming setting.Pub Date: Jan. 4, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-61296-975-6
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Review Posted Online: May 7, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A sweet, powerful Christmas story.
Santa Claus’ dog discovers a new purpose in this children’s picture book by debut author Sky with illustrations by Koehler (Rickshaw Reggie, 2017, etc.).
At the North Pole, Santa has his own dog park, where 100 canines live and play games with the reindeer. Santa’s favorite is Lance, a gray-spotted, big-eared mutt, who often rides in his sleigh. One Christmas Eve, a gust of wind causes Lance to fall out, and he eventually winds up in a small town’s dog shelter. Before Santa can retrieve him, he’s adopted by a military family; Dad is about to ship out overseas, so the family gets Lance for moral support. The dog plays with the kids and keeps them safe and happy, and when the next Christmas Eve rolls around, Lance is torn: Should he return to Santa or stay with his new family? Sky handles this struggle deftly, giving Lance’s decision a satisfying resolution that’s filled with love. The rhyming text scans well, making this book an easy one to read aloud. Koehler’s cheerful, brightly colored illustrations help tell the story through Lance’s vibrant expressions. The dog’s new family appears to be mixed-race, and the author’s sympathy for soldiers and military families is clear in both the text and images.
A sweet, powerful Christmas story.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 29
Publisher: Dogs and Books
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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