Waste not, want not.
Mr. King likes to toss out his old things in favor of new ones, until he discovers recycling—with a little help from his friends.
A silly cat named Mr. King likes “LOTS of new things.” If something becomes a bit old, he “tosses it into the nearby pond and replaces it with a new one.” One day, Mr. King goes fishing in the pond, and something really BIG tugs the line. Alarmed, Mr. King pulls hard and hauls in the “scariest-looking thing” he’s ever seen. Screaming for help, Mr. King rows frantically to shore, towing the monster behind. While Mr. King hides, his friends arrive. All they find is an assemblage of discarded, useful things. Bert the bear can use the ladder, squirrels Skit and Scat turn a trumpet into a house, Old Jim Elk repairs an umbrella, P.J. the hare collects chairs to seat her family, and Tex the fox claims a table. When Mr. King discovers the monster is really his discarded stuff, he’s embarrassed and opts to make some new things from the old. Busy, cheery mixed-media illustrations in blues, greens and yellows rely on flat patterns and loose outlines to humorously highlight foolish Mr. King’s progression from thoughtless wasting to frantic overreacting to resourceful recycling.
Waste not, want not. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-55453-700-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: June 12, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2012
Cheery fun that will leave series fans “egg”-static.
In his latest outing, Bear and his pals go in search of eggs.
Bear “lumbers with his friends through the Strawberry Vale.” Raven finds a nest; climbing up, “The bear finds eggs!”: a refrain that appears throughout. Instead of eating the robin’s eggs, however, Bear leaves a gift of dried berries in the nest for the “soon-to-be-chicks.” Next, the friends find 10 mallard eggs (as bright blue as the robin’s), and Bear leaves sunflower seeds. Then the wail of Mama Meadowlark, whose bright yellow undercarriage strikes a warm golden note, leads them to promise to find her lost eggs. With his friends’ assistance, Bear finds one, and they decide to paint them “so they aren’t lost again.” Another is discovered, painted, and placed in Hare’s basket. After hours of persistent searching, Bear suddenly spots the remaining two eggs “in a small patch of clover.” Before they can return these eggs, the chicks hatch and rejoin their mother. Back at his lair, Bear, with his troupe, is visited by all 17 chicks and the robin, mallard, and meadowlark moms: “And the bear finds friends!” Though this sweet spring tale centers on finding and painting eggs, it makes no overt references to Easter. The soft green and blue acrylics, predictable rhymes, and rolling rhythm make this series installment another low-key natural read-aloud.
Cheery fun that will leave series fans “egg”-static. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 16, 2024
ISBN: 9781665936552
Page Count: 40
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
As implied by the title, the Hokey Pokey takes on a decidedly amphibian tone in this sprightly, cheerful selection, which is filled to the brim with kid appeal. As the song begins, children are invited to join the frogs and follow the traditional lyrics and movements (“Put your right hand in, / Put your right hand out”) until they’ve waved said appendage all about, but then the words change: “Hop the Croaky Pokey / As we chase a fly around, / Right in the froggy’s mouth! / WHAP!” Lively, cartoonish illustrations feature animals at a pond, including a number of frogs (in a delightful variety of greens), none of whom, it turns out, is particularly skilled at catching bugs. As the song continues, hilarity ensues as the blissfully ignorant target fly remains just out of reach, despite all the frogs’ best efforts. But luck like this can’t possibly last forever—can it? Children will giggle throughout, especially at the surprise ending, and will be singing and dancing along in seconds flat. A nice choice for school and home and a good choice for reluctant readers, full of energy, humor and fun. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: March 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2291-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2011
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