by Debi Gliori & illustrated by Debi Gliori ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2008
Gliori puts forth a rhythmic environmental message that warns of the excesses of “dragons galore” on the planet. Fanciful watercolors accompany verses stating the effects of excessive “draconic” behaviors in emphatic if somewhat causally fuzzy terms: “Dragons chop down the forests, / which melts both the Poles / and punctures the atmosphere / full of big holes.” Images of brilliant orange dragons in chaotic urban scenes, silhouettes of animals displaced by the disappearing habitats, even Santa Claus at the watery North Pole help to foster a sense of urgency. The final illustration, of parent and young dragon reading a book—“For if we can’t see that our stories are linked, / then sadly like dragons we could be extinct”—is as charmingly alarmist (if a little daffy, given the visual context) as the rest of the book. This effort will be a useful addition to picture-book collections, especially those needing more titles that promote environmental awareness. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-8027-9789-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Walker
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2008
Share your opinion of this book
More by Debi Gliori
BOOK REVIEW
by Debi Gliori ; illustrated by Alison Brown
BOOK REVIEW
by Debi Gliori ; illustrated by Alison Brown
BOOK REVIEW
by Debi Gliori ; illustrated by Debi Gliori
by Susan Verde ; illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 13, 2016
Though told by two outsiders to the culture, this timely and well-crafted story will educate readers on the preciousness of...
An international story tackles a serious global issue with Reynolds’ characteristic visual whimsy.
Gie Gie—aka Princess Gie Gie—lives with her parents in Burkina Faso. In her kingdom under “the African sky, so wild and so close,” she can tame wild dogs with her song and make grass sway, but despite grand attempts, she can neither bring the water closer to home nor make it clean. French words such as “maintenant!” (now!) and “maman” (mother) and local color like the karite tree and shea nuts place the story in a French-speaking African country. Every morning, Gie Gie and her mother perch rings of cloth and large clay pots on their heads and walk miles to the nearest well to fetch murky, brown water. The story is inspired by model Georgie Badiel, who founded the Georgie Badiel Foundation to make clean water accessible to West Africans. The details in Reynolds’ expressive illustrations highlight the beauty of the West African landscape and of Princess Gie Gie, with her cornrowed and beaded hair, but will also help readers understand that everyone needs clean water—from the children of Burkina Faso to the children of Flint, Michigan.
Though told by two outsiders to the culture, this timely and well-crafted story will educate readers on the preciousness of potable water. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-399-17258-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
Share your opinion of this book
More by Susan Verde
BOOK REVIEW
by Susan Verde ; illustrated by Juliana Perdomo
BOOK REVIEW
by Susan Verde ; illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
BOOK REVIEW
by Susan Verde ; illustrated by Juliana Perdomo
by Christopher Denise ; illustrated by Christopher Denise ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 15, 2022
A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn.
Awards & Accolades
Our Verdict
GET IT
Kirkus Reviews'
Best Books Of 2022
New York Times Bestseller
IndieBound Bestseller
Caldecott Honor
A young owl achieves his grand ambition.
Owl, an adorably earnest and gallant little owlet, dreams of being a knight. He imagines himself defeating dragons and winning favor far and wide through his brave exploits. When a record number of knights go missing, Owl applies to Knight School and is surprisingly accepted. He is much smaller than the other knights-in-training, struggles to wield weapons, and has “a habit of nodding off during the day.” Nevertheless, he graduates and is assigned to the Knight Night Watch. While patrolling the castle walls one night, a hungry dragon shows up and Owl must use his wits to avoid meeting a terrible end. The result is both humorous and heartwarming, offering an affirmation of courage and clear thinking no matter one’s size…and demonstrating the power of a midnight snack. The story never directly addresses the question of the missing knights, but it is hinted that they became the dragon’s fodder, leaving readers to question Owl’s decision to befriend the beast. Humor is supplied by the characters’ facial expressions and accented by the fact that Owl is the only animal in his order of big, burly human knights. Denise’s accomplished digital illustrations—many of which are full bleeds—often use a warm sepia palette that evokes a feeling of antiquity, and some spreads feature a pleasing play of chiaroscuro that creates suspense and drama.
A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-31062-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2022
Share your opinion of this book
More by Anitra Rowe Schulte
BOOK REVIEW
by Anitra Rowe Schulte ; illustrated by Christopher Denise
BOOK REVIEW
by Maryrose Wood ; illustrated by Christopher Denise
BOOK REVIEW
by Anika Denise ; illustrated by Christopher Denise
More About This Book
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.