Hearty lessons in perseverance.
A tough Viking faces an even tougher choice: combat or the culinary arts.
Pale-skinned Gunnar is a burly bearded battlefield star whose life is spent “fighting one war after another.” But there’s something missing. Living in the northern mountains, he’s tired of his diet of “raw fish with stir-fried stones.” While journeying in the south (on an apparently peaceful mission), he encounters an unfamiliar smell from an abandoned cabin: pizza grilling. The taste is so sumptuous that Gunnar is determined to re-create it back home. Pizza gives him purpose. Repeated attempts to produce the dish, however, all end in failure. Vikings don’t like defeat, so Gunnar calls on “effort and patience” and is finally rewarded with “a delicious masterpiece.” Friends and enemies alike are enchanted by this innovation. Gunnar’s supposed agony over whether to choose a future as warrior or as chef never really leaves us in suspense: His persistence is a big clue that pizza will win. The ebullient art is the true star of the show. Vaisberg makes the most of red, violet, and green. Nonnaturalistic but convincing Viking figures sport Norse accessories in a very stylized but recognizably Scandinavian setting. Munnin, Gunnar’s trusty raven, adds another authentic touch, while scenes of Gunnar knitting are especially humorous. And a pizza recipe (with advice to seek help from adults) provides a delicious extra.
Hearty lessons in perseverance. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 7, 2026
ISBN: 9781464233630
Page Count: 40
Publisher: duopress/Sourcebooks
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn.
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
A cheery story that “wool” likely evoke some smiles.
A “baa”-nd of pirates gets the wool pulled over their eyes.
After a treasure-hunting foray, Captain Hoof and his crew of fleecy sheep are homeward bound with a glittery bounty—the lost Golden Shears, which once belonged to the infamous Woolly Jones. Suddenly, huge waves engulf and smash their ship. They’re sheepwrecked and stranded on Foggy Island, home to none other than Woolly Jones. After nearly a month of failed attempts to get off the island, Captain Hoof decides to return the shears to their rightful owner. Trekking across the island through fog as thick and impenetrable as wool, captain and crew eventually bump into their nemesis, who snatches the shears from the captain’s hooves. Expecting dire consequences, everyone starts to flee, but things turn out wool, er, well. In a 90-degree book turn, Woolly is depicted using the shears to give himself a much-needed “woolcut.” He’s grateful for the shears—and for the company after a long, lonely spell. Captain Hoof and crew are delighted at this outcome. This is a cute tale, though the plot is a bit thin; the numerous, amusing sheep puns will appeal more to grown-ups than kids. But the digital illustrations are comical and dynamic, and the all-ovine protagonists are lively and expressive. The book contains lots of typographical creativity, including some onomatopoeic words, incorporated into the artwork, and maps in the endpapers include islands bearing funny, aptly punny names.
A cheery story that “wool” likely evoke some smiles. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: July 9, 2024
ISBN: 9780593569665
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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