An inventive interpretation of a familiar predicament faced by kids.
A child encounters monsters in this picture book.
Josie is afraid of the monsters she sees in the dark. Her dad gives her a “Scary Snapper” (a flashlight) and tells her when she shines it on the creatures, they “will turn into something not scary.” One night, Josie nervously walks to the kitchen for water. She is relieved when the “monsters” she sees are in reality everyday items when she uses the Snapper. For example, a “monster with a funny shaped head” is just clothing on hooks. In the kitchen, she points the Snapper at a big monster. But it doesn’t turn out to be a familiar item. The illustration depicts a fuzzy purple creature cowering in fear. When he turns on his flashlight, aims it at Josie, and says, “It’s a…MONSTER!” she is shocked. The book concludes: “Josie was no longer afraid…with the Scary Snapper…she was the scariest thing in her house.” The concept of spooky shapes actually being ordinary objects is relatable. Although Downing’s twist ending may not assuage frightened readers, it deftly illuminates the notion that fear and intimidation are universal feelings experienced by even those figures readers are afraid of. Machado’s illustrations are artistic and nicely done. Josie has brown skin and pink hair. Key words are often emphasized typographically, some spanning entire pages. The images include up-close portrayals, like a glowing flashlight. The monsters are shown as both Josie’s imagined versions and their real forms.
An inventive interpretation of a familiar predicament faced by kids.Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2020
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 35
Publisher: Dark Window Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 2, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Let these crayons go back into their box.
The Crayons return to celebrate Easter.
Six crayons (Red, Orange, Yellow, Esteban, who is green and wears a yellow cape, White, and Blue) each take a shape and scribble designs on it. Purple, perplexed and almost angry, keeps asking why no one is creating an egg, but the six friends have a great idea. They take the circle decorated with red shapes, the square adorned with orange squiggles “the color of the sun,” the triangle with yellow designs, also “the color of the sun” (a bit repetitious), a rectangle with green wavy lines, a white star, about which Purple remarks: “DID you even color it?” and a rhombus covered with blue markings and slap the shapes onto a big, light-brown egg. Then the conversation turns to hiding the large object in plain sight. The joke doesn’t really work, the shapes are not clear enough for a concept book, and though colors are delineated, it’s not a very original color book. There’s a bit of clever repartee. When Purple observe that Esteban’s green rectangle isn’t an egg, Esteban responds, “No, but MY GOSH LOOK how magnificent it is!” Still, that won’t save this lackluster book, which barely scratches the surface of Easter, whether secular or religious. The multimedia illustrations, done in the same style as the other series entries, are always fun, but perhaps it’s time to retire these anthropomorphic coloring implements. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Let these crayons go back into their box. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-62105-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
A powerful affirmation for all dads—the good, the flawed, and those doing the best they can.
Dedicating his latest to “caregivers who give what they never got,” Caldecott Honor winner Robinson explores complicated feelings around fatherhood.
From the outset, the book appears to be a standard-issue Father’s Day offering, pairing brief, loving sentiments with images of animals. But it soon becomes clear that Robinson has crafted something much more complex. A frog with tadpoles nestled atop his back (“Dad is here”) is followed by an illustration of an owl leaving the nest (“Dad had to go away”). More contrasts are presented: a seahorse keeping his offspring safe in his pouch (“Dad holds on tight”), two shark pups swimming away from their frenzied-looking patriarch (“Dad need lots of space”). “Dad lets you down and makes mistakes” (a porcupine accidentally jabs his little one), but “Dad picks you up and makes you feel safe” (a lion snuggles his cub). And the human fathers we meet next—diverse in skin tone and ability—are equally multifaceted. Robinson outdoes himself, his bold and richly textured paint and collage artwork popping against the background. His artwork is rife with subtleties for careful readers—for instance, the look of uncertainty in the eyes of the gorilla father described as “strong.” For all its simplicity, this colorful book is laden with meaning, depicting fathers as vulnerable, imperfect, gentle, and empathetic—in a word, deeply human.
A powerful affirmation for all dads—the good, the flawed, and those doing the best they can. (more information on the animals presented) (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 12, 2026
ISBN: 9781250397041
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
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.
