Polar Express it ain’t. Skip.
A Polar Express–esque Halloween train ride tailored to Texans.
While out trick-or-treating, the first-person narrator (a pirate in bandanna and eyepatch) and their best friend (a blond-bobbed superhero) are startled when a train on misty tracks descends from the sky. They board for a ride on the Spooky Express. The other passengers include a mummy, a ghost, Frankenstein’s monster, a giant spider, a dragon, and a witch. Once on the train, it’s never clear where the train is going, though several Texas cities and sites are mentioned in the rhyming verses, a subway-line–like map is on the wall (those cities aren’t visited, though), and several Texas landmarks can be spotted through the windows. Ultimately, the two children must save the whole train when the engineer’s head, a pumpkin in which he keeps his brain, falls off his shoulders and must be recovered from Sam Houston Park. Then, it’s back home again. While the rhymes are no great shakes, they do scan well, save one verse that rhymes train with again. Piwowarski’s illustrations use green, purple, and orange to play up the Halloween theme, and there is nothing too frightening for young readers. Both children appear to be white, as do all other human and humanoid characters with one exception. A map of the state is sadly lacking. This Texas edition is one of 78 in the series, covering the 50 states, 18 U.S. and four Canadian cities, and two provinces, among other locales.
Polar Express it ain’t. Skip. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4926-5314-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet if slightly fluffy Easter treat with a sprinkle of kindness on top.
Familiar characters from the Sesame Street television show join a rabbit and a turtle in an Easter morning race and celebration.
The race participants include eight well-known characters from Sesame Street, joined by several animals. As soon as the race gets started, a gray rabbit leads the group, and a turtle immediately lags behind. The rabbit surreptitiously provides a different distraction for each race participant, while the turtle plods along, aiming for a win with his “slow and steady” pace. The bunny can be spotted in each of these encounters, magically producing treats, toys, and a maypole to distract the runners. The turtle finishes first, with the bunny bringing up the rear and then providing a spread of Easter baskets and goodies for all to share. The rabbit is not identified as the Easter Bunny, and the fable of “The Tortoise and the Hare” is not specifically referenced, but these omissions give a quiet, extra layer of meaning for adults to explain or for children to discover on their own. The short, rhyming text establishes a cheerful tone and includes humor and dialogue appropriate to the characters. Jaunty illustrations have a hand-drawn look with scratchy highlights in animal fur and grass, and Elmo in a bunny suit on the cover draws Sesame Street fans into the story.
A sweet if slightly fluffy Easter treat with a sprinkle of kindness on top. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4926-3837-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Jan. 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Fans of this popular series will find this a rewarding addition to family Easter celebrations.
Bergren and Bryant attempt to explain Easter to young children in a gentle, nonthreatening manner, with partial success.
When Little Cub questions her father about Easter, Papa Bear explains the religious significance of the holiday in various symbolic ways to his cub. He uses familiar things from their world, such as an egg and a fallen tree, to draw parallels with aspects of the Christian story. Papa Bear discusses his close relationships with Jesus and God, encouraging Little Cub to communicate with God on her own. The theme focuses on the renewal of life and the positive aspects of loving God and Jesus. Easter is presented as a celebration of eternal life, but the story skirts the issue of the crucifixion entirely. Some adults will find this an inadequate or even dishonest approach to the Easter story, but others will appreciate the calm and soothing text as a way to begin to understand a difficult subject. Bryant’s charming watercolor illustrations of the polar bear family, their cozy home and snowy forest scenes add to the overall mellow effect.
Fans of this popular series will find this a rewarding addition to family Easter celebrations. (Religion/picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 15, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-307-73072-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: WaterBrook
Review Posted Online: Dec. 11, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2013
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