A delightful retelling of an intriguing tale that will make a fine read-aloud for families who celebrate Christmas as a...
A kind, grandmotherly woman meets the wise men and distributes toys and treats in this interpretation of a Russian folk tale.
Babushka keeps busy cleaning her tiny house and creating handmade toys. One wintry night three travelers arrive at her cottage asking for food and a place to rest. The opulently dressed men tell Babushka they are on a journey to take gifts to “a newborn king,” and they invite her to come along. Babushka declines the invitation but later packs up a basket of clothing, toys, and sweets, as well as her cat, and tries to follow the travelers. She meets needy children along the way, giving each child a much-appreciated gift, and then continues to wander all over her country, passing out presents. The emotionally satisfying folk tale is told in lyrical, polished prose that exudes an air of magic and mystery. Captivating, full-page illustrations in a cool palette of blues and purples set the Russian scene and help create a distinct personality for the doll-shaped Babushka. She is white, one of the wise men has dark skin, and Mary and baby Jesus (seen in a dream) have dark hair and light brown skin. The wise men, Mary, and Jesus are not named as such but referred to generically or with eponyms.
A delightful retelling of an intriguing tale that will make a fine read-aloud for families who celebrate Christmas as a Christian holiday. (Picture book/folk tale/religion. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-68099-188-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Good Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2016
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
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BOOK REVIEW
Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
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