While Abigail’s internal process feels believable, there is no condemnation of the bullying, and the resolution with the...
A fat girl named Abigail copes with a negative body image.
Unfortunately, this book’s good intentions miss the mark. The very title, juxtaposed with jacket art depicting a heavyset white girl clad in a bathing suit and goggles, risks reinforcing the fat-shaming it attempts to undo. As the book opens, Abigail walks, head down, toward a group of jeering, thin, white children. “Abigail always tried to be last in line, because she knew that when she dived in, she would make an enormous wave, and everyone would shout, 'ABIGAIL IS A WHALE!’ ”—and that’s exactly what happens. Also poolside is the swimming teacher, a white man, who is fat, too. Although he does nothing to stop or correct the children’s bullying of Abigail, he talks with her afterward, praising her swimming and telling her, “if you want to feel light, think light.” She decides to practice this mind-over-matter advice in other ways (thinking “giant” to feel big and powerful on her walk home and “hedgehog” to cozily burrow into bed for a good night’s sleep), building up to her next dive into the pool. Then she thinks “rocket and enter[s] the water without a splash.” This success suddenly makes the others cheer her on, and she even reclaims the term “whale” in order to summon the bravery to jump from the highest diving board.
While Abigail’s internal process feels believable, there is no condemnation of the bullying, and the resolution with the other children feels forced. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-77147-198-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Review Posted Online: June 27, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Sure to give recent Henry & Mudge grads a happy buzz.
Winter’s arrival leaves sleepy Honey Bee in no mood to entertain her still-antsy friend.
Having quickly run through all the possibilities for solitary activities, Ant ignores her bigger buddy’s “bee-mail” brushoff and heads out into the “rainy and complain-y” weather to pay a call. Grumpy reception notwithstanding (“Honey Bee sure had her stinger out today”), Ant’s relentless persistence ultimately pays off in a cooperatively assembled “peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich”—actually a bowl of milk with some chips in it—enhanced, “Stone Soup” style, with raisins, maple syrup, goldfish crackers, gummy worms, squeeze cheese, ketchup and even stored-away honey. “It’s very antsome,” admits Honey Bee. And the towering result makes a perfect final snack before cuddling down on a shared couch for a long winter’s nap. McDonald’s three-chapter tale offers an entertaining mix of wordplay and amusing back-and-forth conversation—not to mention delicious kitchen antics and, from Karas, cartoon illustrations rich in both visual gags (“Napping House” reads the sign outside Old Man Spider’s home) and small but clear cues to the mutual regard lurking under the (four-limbed, but never mind) insect friends’ moods.
Sure to give recent Henry & Mudge grads a happy buzz. (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-7636-5712-3
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: July 16, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The story could use a little more internal logic, but Judge’s art stands out. (Picture book. 6-8)
Like one of Sendak’s wild things embarking on a journey of its own, the hairy monster in this boiled-down quest tale abruptly sets out for parts unknown.
Being a featureless, tree-sized black silhouette with two yellow eyes, the solitary Beast looks menacing but leads a peaceable existence in a remote forest. Responding to a sudden yen for companionship, he departs one day on a long trek over land and under sea—arriving at last, after many adventures, in a city whose residents quickly get over their initial terror to make him welcome as a gardener in the local park. Being lonely still, he broadcasts public appeals in hopes of reaching others of his kind, then, when that gets no response, sets out again, retracing his original route. Using what looks like paint and cut-paper collage, Judge creates open settings in artfully contrasted colors and textures that give his central figure both a strong visual presence and an enigmatic air carrying hints of deeper meanings. Or maybe not: The Beast arrives back in his garden to find that other Beasts have gathered from all over the world to throw him a surprise party and to stick around forever after for nightly wild rumpuses.
The story could use a little more internal logic, but Judge’s art stands out. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7613-8097-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Andersen Press USA
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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