A kids’ book that adults, and especially fans of the Grateful Dead, will be able to valuably share with the youngsters in...
A box of Grateful Dead bear dolls brings a grandfather and granddaughter closer in this retelling of a true family story by debut author Bratt and debut artist High.
Four-year-old Ava’s grandfather wants to give her a surprise for Christmas. He spent a year collecting 100 colorful, cuddly Grateful Dead bears (which were inspired by one of the group’s album-cover illustrations), each one different. Just before the holiday, he puts them in a huge box under the tree. Ava loves them immediately, and she and her grandfather bond over learning the names and colors of the friendly dolls. The bears themselves are grateful to have such a wonderful home with a girl who loves them so much. Even as Ava gets older, and the bears spend more time in a basket and less time on display, she remembers each of their names and loves them. But after the family cat acts out by spraying Ava’s bears instead of using his litter box, the girl’s mother kicks them out of the house. The bears are terrified but still glad to be with one another: “Ava’s Grateful Bears had an amazing gift / of always finding something to be grateful for.” After a long, cold winter of living outside, Ava’s grandfather attempts to rescue them, and although it takes time, he succeeds in restoring them. Ava can again share her love of the (now-clean) bears with her friends. That Christmas, Ava and her grandfather tie ribbons to each bear and decorate the tree with them. The book’s plot sometimes stumbles, due to sticking close to true events, and the bears’ thoughts are only intermittently revealed. But the overall story of the bears’ journey is delightful, and the love between Ava and her grandfather is touching. High’s illustrations capture the joy of the Grateful Bears and feature their unique colors and patterns; some images are filled to the brim with bears in the background. It would have been nice if Bratt had better explained why the dolls are called Grateful Dead bears, but his emphasis on keeping a grateful heart and attitude comes through clearly.
A kids’ book that adults, and especially fans of the Grateful Dead, will be able to valuably share with the youngsters in their lives.Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-9909981-0-5
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tacksam Hus Press
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
Broccoli: No way is James going to eat broccoli. “It’s disgusting,” says James. Well then, James, says his father, let’s consider the alternatives: some wormy dirt, perhaps, some stinky socks, some pre-chewed gum? James reconsiders the broccoli, but—milk? “Blech,” says James. Right, says his father, who needs strong bones? You’ll be great at hide-and-seek, though not so great at baseball and kickball and even tickling the dog’s belly. James takes a mouthful. So it goes through lumpy oatmeal, mushroom lasagna and slimy eggs, with James’ father parrying his son’s every picky thrust. And it is fun, because the father’s retorts are so outlandish: the lasagna-making troll in the basement who will be sent back to the rat circus, there to endure the rodent’s vicious bites; the uneaten oatmeal that will grow and grow and probably devour the dog that the boy won’t be able to tickle any longer since his bones are so rubbery. Schneider’s watercolors catch the mood of gentle ribbing, the looks of bewilderment and surrender and the deadpanned malarkey. It all makes James’ father’s last urging—“I was just going to say that you might like them if you tried them”—wholly fresh and unexpected advice. (Early reader. 5-9)
Pub Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-547-14956-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2011
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