A feast for the eyes and ears, this beach and bedtime story will be read and reread often.
The protagonists of What Does Little Crocodile Say? (2021) return for a sound-filled day at the beach.
Big Crocodile and Little Crocodile are on a camping vacation near the beach. As they ride their bike, “the bell goes dring dring.” “The sunscreen goes squirt.” “The fish go blub.” “The hermit crab goes snip-snap.” Adult readers who enjoy reading with expression will have fun creating the sound featured in each scene, and young listeners will soon understand the story’s pattern and chime in with a “splash” for an incoming wave, a “tick tock tick” as Big Crocodile checks the time, and a “toot toot” when the ship in the harbor signals. “And what does Little Crocodile say” when it’s time to leave? “WWWWAAH.” As the day winds down, readers will notice a familiar bedtime routine. The pair shower and struggle with pajamas, dine al fresco with a cricket companion, and finally wish on a shooting star before retiring to their tent and sleeping bags. “And the moon says ‘good night.’ ” Reflecting the text well and adding details like seaside friends, veggie kebobs, and night sky constellations, delicate and whimsical colored pencil and chalk pastel illustrations of the pair stand out against generally neutral backgrounds with minimal details; each enchanting page highlights a different activity in this lovely day. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A feast for the eyes and ears, this beach and bedtime story will be read and reread often. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: March 7, 2023
ISBN: 9781774881552
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Rarely, perhaps never, has so steep an emotional arc been drawn with such utter, winning simplicity.
A little dog and her big ball map an inner life rich in heights of joy and depths of sorrow.
Sticking strictly to pictures—using neutral washes and just a few colors applied in broad, rumpled brushstrokes—Raschka follows floppy-eared Daisy and her large red ball on a walk to the park and a happy chase. Then disaster strikes, when a rougher dog horns in and pops the ball. Even very young viewers will feel Daisy’s pain as she passes in stages through incomprehension, dismay and anger to, at last, a bone-deep sadness that is brilliantly evoked by successive views of the droopy dog slowly sinking into a sofa’s cushions. Doggy delight rekindles, however, when another visit to the park finds the offending pooch and its owner waiting…with a new, blue ball! The final scene of Daisy and ball snuggled together on the sofa positively radiates canine content.
Rarely, perhaps never, has so steep an emotional arc been drawn with such utter, winning simplicity. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: May 10, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-375-85861-1
Page Count: 34
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A decent romp with a few drawbacks.
Caped crusaders take responsibility.
Everybody makes mistakes, even superheroes. This picture book uses rhyming couplets and playful, cartoon artwork to illustrate a variety of scenarios in which masked avengers mess up. They trip and fall, they catch “the wrong guys,” they even oversleep. Regardless of their missteps, heroes always get back up and try again, and they certainly do their best to set things right. The author’s sermon on personal responsibility is a bit too long, but little readers will enjoy the variety of superheroics on display. The mix of superhero-specific misdeeds (muffing the alignment of a bridge they are building) with totally unrelated ones (singing off-key) feels totally arbitrary and a little unkind, but for children facing difficulties with their own behavior, this picture book that acknowledges that “perfection is rare” and an apology goes far certainly hits the spot. The illustrations are suitably dynamic and colorful, boasting a range of male and female superheroes of various sizes and colors. Two negatives to the art: A preponderance of identified “bandits” appear to be people of color, and all three female heroes are wasp-waisted, and two wear short shorts and midriff-baring tops while the guys are covered head to toe. These trends really, really need to go.
A decent romp with a few drawbacks. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4549-2703-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sterling
Review Posted Online: July 15, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© 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.
