Whether would-be musicians or not, children will find a lot to like in little Wendell.
Teamwork helps a narwhal to participate in an underwater orchestra.
All the other creatures of the sea can make music, but Wendell can’t seem to create the right resonance with his tusk. He is a bit jealous that the octopus can make a “pop, pop, pop” sound, the jellyfish go “wubba, wub, wub,” the blowfish can “whoosh,” the whale sings “tweedly dee,” and the clam claps. When they all get going, the din is discordant and noisy, prompting Wendell to tap his tusk to get everyone to be quiet. The jellyfish then suggest that Wendell be the conductor to their little orchestra, and all together they make a harmonious melody. Contained in a charmingly diminutive trim, the muted paintings of the various ocean dwellers stand out against an oceanic green background. A cacophony of sound words across each page depicts the transition from a loud clatter to a mellow tune. Even children who can’t read the words will see how they threaten to overwhelm the narwhal before he coordinates them all. Preschoolers will enjoy repeating all the sounds as this aquatic symphony takes shape while they discover the names of some relatively unfamiliar sea creatures.
Whether would-be musicians or not, children will find a lot to like in little Wendell. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-927018-66-8
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Simply Read
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2015
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
For toddlers unafraid of typical Halloween imagery.
A troop of cats traverse a spooky landscape as they make their way to a party hosted by ghosts.
Each double-page spread shows the felines’ encounters with the likes of an owl, jack-o’-lanterns or a bat. One or two of these creepy meetings may be too abstract for the youngest readers, as the cats hear eerie noises with no discernible source on the page. The text, which consists of one rhyming couplet per scene, mostly scans despite a couple of wobbles: “Five black cats get a bit of a scare / As the flip-flapping wings of a bat fill the air.” The sleek, slightly retro art, likely created using a computer, depicts the cats cavorting at night through a shadowy cityscape, the countryside and a haunted house; they may scare some toddlers and delight others. A brighter color palette would have given the project a friendlier, more universal appeal. Luckily, the well-lit, final party scene provides a playful conclusion.
For toddlers unafraid of typical Halloween imagery. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-58925-611-8
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2014
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