A satisfying adventure with a hint of more to come. Hooray for Bailey.
Bailey is a little brown bat with a spirit of adventure who finds much to explore in the daylight.
One morning Bailey hears unusual loud noises coming from the forest, and they are too intriguing to ignore. Nervously and with pounding heart, Bailey leaves all the other brown bats sleeping and flies out of the roost to the forest, discovering Matty, a young bull moose whose antlers are badly tangled in fence ropes. Matty’s parents cannot hear his cries, and a dangerous pack of wolves is getting too close for comfort. Bailey attempts to untangle the frightened moose, using claws and sharp teeth, but cannot break the thick rope. With the wolves getting closer, Bailey emits loud, high-pitched squeaks to declare an emergency, knowing that Mama and all the other brown bats will come flying to the rescue. Mama sends some bats to get Matty’s parents and dozens more to chew the ropes. Matty is free, his parents arrive in time to charge the wolves, and Matty hails Bailey as a hero. Aimed at emergent readers, Lawrence’s brief, descriptive text keeps the action moving while carefully incorporating bat facts. Always referred to by name, Bailey is assigned no gendered pronouns and is kind, brave, and resourceful. Setting them against colorful Canadian scenery, Landry depicts the animals sympathetically as cartoons with a just-right touch of accuracy.
A satisfying adventure with a hint of more to come. Hooray for Bailey. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Sept. 14, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-4598-2729-5
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
A lesson that never grows old, enacted with verve by two favorite friends
Gerald the elephant learns a truth familiar to every preschooler—heck, every human: “Waiting is not easy!”
When Piggie cartwheels up to Gerald announcing that she has a surprise for him, Gerald is less than pleased to learn that the “surprise is a surprise.” Gerald pumps Piggie for information (it’s big, it’s pretty, and they can share it), but Piggie holds fast on this basic principle: Gerald will have to wait. Gerald lets out an almighty “GROAN!” Variations on this basic exchange occur throughout the day; Gerald pleads, Piggie insists they must wait; Gerald groans. As the day turns to twilight (signaled by the backgrounds that darken from mauve to gray to charcoal), Gerald gets grumpy. “WE HAVE WASTED THE WHOLE DAY!…And for WHAT!?” Piggie then gestures up to the Milky Way, which an awed Gerald acknowledges “was worth the wait.” Willems relies even more than usual on the slightest of changes in posture, layout and typography, as two waiting figures can’t help but be pretty static. At one point, Piggie assumes the lotus position, infuriating Gerald. Most amusingly, Gerald’s elephantine groans assume weighty physicality in spread-filling speech bubbles that knock Piggie to the ground. And the spectacular, photo-collaged images of the Milky Way that dwarf the two friends makes it clear that it was indeed worth the wait.
A lesson that never grows old, enacted with verve by two favorite friends . (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4231-9957-1
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2014
Cuándo quieras un perro feliz, look no further.
A young Latine boy finally gets to rescue the dog of his dreams, but training can be a challenge in two languages.
Like many children, José has been dreaming of having a pet of his own, specifically un perro, a dog. Like any good owner, José promptly begins training his new canine companion but soon realizes his rescue mutt, Feliz, knows only words in English. This is a problem because in José’s home everyone speaks both Spanish and English. José and Feliz must rise to the challenge; fortunately, treats and snuggles are great motivators. The narrative uses Spanish words and phrases throughout (“perros blancos,” “¡Yo quiero este!” “¡Sientate!”), usually with English context clues for understanding. This is complex vocabulary for an early reader, and the shifting in phonics from English to Spanish will be challenging for true beginners; the book is best suited for intermediate to advanced readers in dual-language classrooms or homes. Much like Feliz, however, it is sure to find a loving (and bilingual) home. Cheerful illustrations complement the text, helping readers make sense of the narrative. While José and his mother are darker-skinned, his father and sister are lighter-skinned. (This review has been updated for accuracy.)
Cuándo quieras un perro feliz, look no further. (glossary of Spanish-English words) (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-52116-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
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.
