Relatable storytelling and characters underscore the importance of encouraging children to stretch their imaginations.
Tales of leprechauns inspire best friends to seek one out for its pot of gold in Bird’s chapter book.
Boston grade-schoolers Ellie and her best friend, Kim, are captivated by Kim’s grandmother’s tales about leprechauns. When Ellie’s mom says she read that some leprechauns emigrated from Ireland to Boston, the girls decide to capture one of the little folk, hoping to be offered gold in exchange for its release. The author nicely conveys a sense of possibility in the excitement that Ellie and Kim feel when Ellie’s mother suggests a likely spot for their search in a field with an ancient oak tree: “There was hardly enough earth to hold the massive roots that knotted over each other…. Among the decay and decomposition, small mushrooms sprouted eagerly from beneath the damp ground.” Central to the book’s message about the link between children’s imaginative play and their ability to problem-solve is Ellie’s supportive mom, who calls all of Ellie and Kim’s outings “adventures.” She subtly facilitates the girls’ mission, contributing well-timed nuggets of leprechaun information with the disclaimer that she is sharing “what I read in a book of folklore.” In Ellie and Kim’s approach, Bird models systematic information-gathering through online research, direct sources (Ellie’s mom and Kim’s grandmother), and creative thinking—the tiny silver buckle they find must come from a leprechaun’s shoe, and that scrap of leather; could it be a leprechaun’s blanket or shoe-making material? At home, Ellie’s everyday life disappointingly includes some seemingly obligatory sibling conflict: In response to her twin brother James’ smirking skepticism about her leprechaun findings, Ellie calls him a “Blockhead.” Visually, most pages of the well-spaced text are enlivened by David A.’s ink-and-watercolor cartoon-style spot drawings of leprechauns, a mushroom fairy ring, acorns, little hats and boots, and coin-filled kettles. Some of the action, including Ellie and Kim’s search of the hollow under the oak tree, is rendered in half-page illustrations. In the text itself, a mix of regular and decorative fonts used for emphasis adds to the visual appeal.
Relatable storytelling and characters underscore the importance of encouraging children to stretch their imaginations.Pub Date: May 24, 2023
ISBN: 9781039159297
Page Count: 108
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
Although the love comes shining through, the text often confuses in straining for patterned simplicity.
A collection of parental wishes for a child.
It starts out simply enough: two children run pell-mell across an open field, one holding a high-flying kite with the line “I wish you more ups than downs.” But on subsequent pages, some of the analogous concepts are confusing or ambiguous. The line “I wish you more tippy-toes than deep” accompanies a picture of a boy happily swimming in a pool. His feet are visible, but it's not clear whether he's floating in the deep end or standing in the shallow. Then there's a picture of a boy on a beach, his pockets bulging with driftwood and colorful shells, looking frustrated that his pockets won't hold the rest of his beachcombing treasures, which lie tantalizingly before him on the sand. The line reads: “I wish you more treasures than pockets.” Most children will feel the better wish would be that he had just the right amount of pockets for his treasures. Some of the wordplay, such as “more can than knot” and “more pause than fast-forward,” will tickle older readers with their accompanying, comical illustrations. The beautifully simple pictures are a sweet, kid- and parent-appealing blend of comic-strip style and fine art; the cast of children depicted is commendably multiethnic.
Although the love comes shining through, the text often confuses in straining for patterned simplicity. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: April 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4521-2699-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2015
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
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