A quiet story that savors the historical details of a bird’s trans-Atlantic journey.
The titular 189 canaries bring their unique songs from the mountains of Germany to bustling New York harbor.
High in the Harz Mountains of Germany, canaries are bred for use in the silver mines. Their ability to detect high levels of carbon monoxide alerts miners to escape the tunnels to reach fresh air. These canaries also learn to sing beautiful melodies unlike any other in the world. This story focuses on the journey of one canary who is placed in a tiny cage, strapped onto a large rack with 188 other tiny cages, each containing a single canary. Transported by foot, cart, train, and ocean liner, the feathered protagonist finally winds up in New York, where he is purchased by a little girl. Originally published in German, this historical picture book was created with the advice and support of the Harz Roller Museum in Germany. The third-person narration has a descriptive simplicity that ties together the canary’s observations with a zoomed-out view of the voyage. The linear storytelling is full of graceful imagery, often reflected in the illustrations. Using a folk art–meets-hipster style, the illustrations lean into a rich, warm color palette. Backmatter presents a short history of canaries in captivity, information on their ability to learn songs from one another, and the ways canaries were used and transported by humans in the 19th century. While the uniqueness of Harz Roller canaries is celebrated, quality of life for birds bred for captivity is never addressed. All human characters have pale skin.
A quiet story that savors the historical details of a bird’s trans-Atlantic journey. (Picture book. 6-9)Pub Date: Sept. 7, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5574-9
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Eerdmans
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for...
A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility.
Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. When Gavin’s desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. “After all, it isn’t his fault that Danielle’s snow globe got broken. Sure, he shouldn’t have been in her room—but then, she shouldn’t be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. Anybody would be tempted. Anybody!” opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle’s yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English (Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener.
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Dec. 17, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-547-97044-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Disconcerting and possibly deadly dealings are afoot; certain to charm younger fans of the macabre.
In the latest installment of the delightfully disturbing chapter-book series, the mundane once more takes on supernatural qualities, this time in the form of veggies.
With this follow-up to Troubling Tonsils! (2025), our host, Jasper Rabbit, once more channels Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling. As Jasper narrates, we meet our heroes: fourth graders Thaddeus Badger and Oliver Possum, who love nothing more than eating junk food, particularly the hamburgers at Hurt-A-Burger (a mildly brilliant corporate name on the author’s part). When Oliver’s parents trick the two into a dinner of salads at their favorite fast-food joint, Thaddeus feels betrayed, but Oliver experiences something a little more dire. Soon after, Oliver starts acting strangely, and his parents begin behaving even more oddly. What’s going on? And does it have anything to do with the full moon? Tone is the true star of the show in this series; the mystery unspools thanks to the buildup of unnerving moments. Reynolds combines suspense with a keen ability to artistically frame both sunny innocent sequences and those rich with dark foreboding. Notably, this is no morality tale about eating your vegetables—this tale is fully on the side of its child readers. Brown’s black-and-white images, punctuated with eerie pops of green, heighten both horrifying and comedic moments.
Disconcerting and possibly deadly dealings are afoot; certain to charm younger fans of the macabre. (Chapter book. 6-9)Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
ISBN: 9781665961110
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2025
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