Gentle humor and a sense of wonder pervade this joyful aquatic fantasy.
In Blue Rider (2016), Valério employed explosive colors and forms to illustrate, sans text, the magic of reading; here the Brazilian-Canadian’s wordless narrative depicts two friendships that blossom at the edge of the sea.
In the opening, a girl with flaming curls and a large, mustard-colored face dips her toes into the water, tackle box in hand. As a fish explores her submerged fingertip (and another, those of her companion, a frog), she imagines one on her line. It retreats when the hook is lowered. Her frown is reflected in the water, and she subsequently experiments with expressions, as does her green friend. The fish return, and as her demeanor becomes more pleasant, the mirror image morphs into a mermaid. The cool, blue figures contrast with the sunny shoreline palette until girl and amphibian are guided into the water and the sand recedes completely. Subtle changes to the pastel, colored pencil, and acrylic compositions begin as the friendship solidifies: The mermaid’s hair fills with yellow stars and sea horses while the child’s somewhat subdued hair becomes flecked with blue. The foursome flips and floats, surrounded by other sea creatures. As the girls make pearl necklaces, the frogs play with bubbles. In a satisfying conclusion, no one is called home; the characters simply drift off the page in slumber, leaving readers to imagine what occurs next.
Gentle humor and a sense of wonder pervade this joyful aquatic fantasy. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 5, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-77306-102-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Groundwood
Review Posted Online: Dec. 21, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2019
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A good choice for offering comfort and support to a budding perfectionist.
Can anyone be perfect?
Beatrice Bottomwell always does everything right. “Most people in town didn’t even know Beatrice’s name. They just called her ‘The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes,’ because for as long as anyone could remember, she never did.” One Thursday though, she almost does something wrong (she drops some eggs while cooking at school but catches them just in time). Straightforward text describes Beatrice’s predicament as, unnerved, she ponders her almost-error and begins to worry. What if she really does do something wrong? Brightly colored watercolors and gentle humor combine to portray Beatrice’s eventful day, her growing fear and her sprightly pet hamster. During a school talent show, Beatrice finally makes a real mistake—in front of everyone. How will she cope? Learning how to relax enough to laugh and simply be herself just might do the trick. While the plot is predictable and the solution to the problem fairly pat, this is a well-intentioned story, full of acceptance and goodwill. It will be especially useful in a therapeutic setting; it may be a real comfort to a child who is afraid of making mistakes, while children dealing with similar issues will also find reassurance here.
A good choice for offering comfort and support to a budding perfectionist. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5544-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2011
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