The exquisite visuals don’t completely rescue this environmental fable from its heavy-handed and muddled message; theater,...
This play-turned-book, imported from Finland, opens with an idealistic dove approaching a world-weary owl to help alleviate the desertification in distant Africa.
A friendly whale transports the pair across the ocean. After the mammal’s beached siblings are rescued, and the destination is reached, the dove seizes on the solution of planting trees, but where to find seeds? Enter the wind, and the mission is carried to the four corners of the earth, reaching a koala, gorilla, panda and mountain lion. These creatures carry native seeds, while a boy brings water; the teamwork produces a seedling. In addition to being earnest to a fault, the dialogue-driven narrative bogs down in length and, at times, obscurity. The cause of the predicament is never explained, although there are asides about “saying something to humans.” The repeated refrain, “the strong give the weak the power to do more / when the wind is behind them,” only makes sense in context, diminishing its potential power. Realistically rendered animals are foregrounded, as on a stage, while Rothko-like backgrounds provide an aura of fantasy. The vibrant palette, strong contrast between warm and cool tones and sophisticated layering of colors effectively convey the splendor of nature.
The exquisite visuals don’t completely rescue this environmental fable from its heavy-handed and muddled message; theater, with its energy, movement and tighter scripting, it is still the better vehicle. (organization note) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: April 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-84-15241-31-7
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Cuento de Luz
Review Posted Online: Feb. 28, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2012
A winner of an early reader.
Channeling the can-do attitude of a certain little engine, Lewin’s alligator comes out on top with some help from his friend and despite the bullying of another gator.
Limited, repetitive text invites new readers to adopt the same spirit of determination about reading that the protagonist alligator does about swimming when he confidently tells his friend, “I can win” after they spy a sign reading “Big Race Sunday” posted on a tree. His self-assurance is challenged by a bigger, scowling alligator wearing a red cap, who snarls, “No, you can’t.” Bickering leads to the bully shoving the littler gator, and then a spread showing the friend (who wears a pink bow on her head to distinguish her from the others), who says, “Yes, you can.” She encourages her friend as he practices for the race even while the antagonist continues to say “CANNOT,” and our hero perseveres. When the day of the big race arrives, the good guy does finish first, rejoicing, “I did it!” dripping wet and wearing his first-place medal, while his proud friend looks on. Throughout, Lewin’s restrained watercolor-and-ink artwork matches the control of the text, providing ample, white resting space for the eyes while delivering engaging and expressive characters. Subtle shifts in the placement of speech balloons provide humor while helping children decode.
A winner of an early reader. (Early reader. 5-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2522-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Feb. 26, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An awesome-tastic invitation to have or share thoughts about bad and better choices.
Actor Tatum’s effervescent heroine steals a friend’s toy and then lies about it.
Thrilled about an upcoming play date with new classmate Wyatt, Sparkella considers her own sparkly stuffies, games, and accessories and silently decides that he’d be more interested in her friend Tam’s remote-controlled minicar. While she and Tam are playing together, Sparkella takes the car when Tam isn’t looking. Tam melts down at school the next day, and Sparkella, seeing her “bestest friend” losing her sparkle, feels “icky, oogy, and blech.” And when Wyatt comes over, he turns out to be far more entranced by glittery goods than some old car. When Sparkella yells at him—“WYATT, YOU HAVE TO PLAY WITH THIS CAR RIGHT NOW!”—her dad overhears and asks where the toy came from…and along with being a thief, Sparkella turns out to be the worst. Liar. Ever. She eventually confesses (her dad forgives her), apologizes (ditto Wyatt and even Tam), and goes on to take part in a three-way play date/sparklefest. Her absolution may come with unlikely ease, but it’s comfortingly reassuring, and her model single dad does lay down a solid parental foundation by allowing that everyone makes mistakes and stressing that she is “never going to be punished for telling the truth in this house.” He and Sparkella present White, a previous entry cued brown-skinned Tam as Asian, and Wyatt has brown skin in Barnes’ candy-hued pictures. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An awesome-tastic invitation to have or share thoughts about bad and better choices. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: May 30, 2023
ISBN: 9781250750778
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 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.
