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ARTURO

Name: ARTURO
Author: Hannah Beech
ISBN: 978-1-76036-087-0

by Hannah Beech ; illustrated by Hannah Beech ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2020

A sly, winking acknowledgment that naughtiness is harder to root out than one might wish.

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An anteater is antsy for world fame.

Arturo craves acclaim and doesn’t sit idly by, waiting for the spotlight to claim him. He works at being the “centre of attention,” acting “cheeky” and striking rude poses. (This import from Australia and New Zealand has not been Americanized.) Disregarding warnings that “if the wind changes…you’ll stick like that,” Arturo keeps it up—until the wind does change, and he turns into a statue, frozen in a ludicrous posture with a rather daft facial expression. Efforts at unsticking fail; Arturo is used for utilitarian purposes, as coat rack, Christmas tree, and scarecrow. But could fame finally be within his grasp? “Chat shows,” celebrity soirees, and news articles attest to Arturo’s notoriety. His placement atop a pedestal proves he’s famous and loved! At story’s end, though, Arturo is inexplicably released from his immobile existence, and he realizes he’d rather be himself. Of course, “himself” isn’t famous but is still naughty. There’s an obvious illustrated hint that Arturo quickly returns to his former ways, having learned little except that fame is illusory. This humorous but thin story thus forgoes what could have been a pat lesson about improving moral character; it concludes realistically and accessibly: A pesky pain in the neck is likely to remain so. Comical cartoons feature lots of white space; Arturo’s exaggerated facial features enhance the fun.

A sly, winking acknowledgment that naughtiness is harder to root out than one might wish. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-76036-087-0

Page Count: 36

Publisher: Starfish Bay

Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

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ADDIE ANT GOES ON AN ADVENTURE

by Maren Morris & Karina Argow ; illustrated by Kelly Anne Dalton ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 9, 2024

Young readers will be “antsy” to join the hero on her satisfying escapade.

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An ant explores her world.

Addie Ant’s ready for adventure. Despite some trepidation about leaving the Tomato Bed, where she lives with her aunt, she plucks up her courage and ventures forth across the garden to the far side of the shed. On her journey, she meets her pal Lewis Ladybug, who greets her warmly, points the way, and offers sage advice. When Addie arrives at her destination, she’s welcomed by lovely Beatrix Butterfly and enjoys an “ant-tastic” helping of watermelon. Beatrix also provides Addie with take-home treats and a map for the “Cricket Express,” which will take her straight home. Arriving at the terminal, Addie’s delighted to meet another friend, Cleo Cricket, whose carriage service returns Addie home in “two hops.” After eating a warm tomato soup dinner, Addie falls asleep and dreams of future exploits. Adorable though not terribly original, this story brims with sensuous pleasures, both textual and visual. Kids who declare that they dislike fruits or veggies may find their mouths watering at the mentions and sights of luscious tomatoes, peas, beans, watermelons, berries, and other foodstuffs; insect-averse readers may likewise think differently after encountering these convivial, wide-eyed characters. And those flowers and herbs everywhere! The highlights are the colors that burst from the pages. Addie’s an endearing, empowering character who reassures children they’ll be able to take those first independent steps successfully.

Young readers will be “antsy” to join the hero on her satisfying escapade. (author’s note about ants) (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: April 9, 2024

ISBN: 9781797228914

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2024

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)