Sly, ironic humor and unusual illustrations make this translation from the German more likely to appeal to adults than to children—if it appeals at all. While the first-person narrator professes a desire to behave well as an adult, the illustrations show a young boy consistently failing to meet those standards. From tying up a friend and stashing her under the sofa while playing cowboys and Indians to running away from the consequences when he accidentally breaks a window, the young boy’s actions contrast deliberately with his high-minded intentions. Unfortunately, this dissonance may confuse or dismay young listeners rather than amusing them. Muted colors and vaguely cartoonish characters with pointed noses and tiny feet add to the oddness and seem unlikely to have much kid appeal. While it seems likely that some part of the humor has gotten lost in translation—or, rather, simply doesn’t translate well—the most likely use of this lighthearted story will be as a heavy-handed tool to teach good manners, a fate it doesn’t deserve. (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: Oct. 10, 2006
ISBN: 0-374-38313-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2006
A light touch delivers an increasingly common but important message.
As her name suggests, Itty Bitty Betty Blob is a small, amorphous monster, but that’s not what sets her apart.
It’s Betty’s cheerful demeanor that makes her different from her peers. What kind of monster “rejoice[s] at rainbows” and “dance[s] among the dandelions”? Betty’s pink hue also distinguishes her from her classmates, who are rendered in a black-and-white palette, and makes her stand out in her rather somber, expressionistic setting. Brief, alliterative sentences keep the pages turning as readers learn about her trouble fitting in at school: While the other students faithfully reproduce a still life of dead flowers on a table, hers is a vibrant image of a living, yellow daisy. The crisis comes to a head on picture day. Despite the dreadful outfit her mother selects, Betty can’t grimace fiercely enough. As she travels through the spooky forest to school, the diminutive monster is distracted by a pink puff. Following it, she encounters an entire fluffy community that encourages her to be true to herself. Her frightful frock becomes an extravaganza of flowers. The climax involves a mood transformation for the entire class as puffs emerge from Betty’s dress, tickling everyone as the flash goes off. Children will enjoy the humor in the reversal of expectations around classroom culture—and will be heartened by Betty’s willingness to embrace what makes her different—although subsequent readings don’t yield much more.
A light touch delivers an increasingly common but important message. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: June 4, 2024
ISBN: 9781662640148
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Hippo Park/Astra Books for Young Readers
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Gorgeous illustrations and an evocative time period support a somewhat staid story.
The third book featuring Little Elliot, a polka-dot elephant, and Mouse brings them to Coney Island.
Little Elliot and Mouse take the train to Coney Island, where Mouse assures Elliot that he will have a great time. Visual details such as the fashions on the racially diverse crowds—most especially the black enlisted sailor’s dress whites—point to a time period of late 1930s to early 1940s, a feeling that is enhanced by Curato’s lush illustrations in a color palette that recalls the postcards of that era. Having arrived at Coney Island, Elliot is, alas, not having a good time. He is frightened by the rides, a sea gull steals his ice cream, and the clown scares him. When Mouse suggests the Ferris wheel, Elliot climbs on with trepidation. But when, in a dramatic horizontal double-gatefold spread, he sees the whole wonderful panorama of the park, he begins to enjoy himself. At dusk, Elliot asks Mouse what his favorite part of the day was, and Mouse replies, “being with you,” a sentiment echoed by Elliot. The story ends on this tidy, rather bland note, but adults reading aloud may privately muse about the poignancy of a story of friendship perched on the edge of World War II, and this adds a pleasing nuance.
Gorgeous illustrations and an evocative time period support a somewhat staid story. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-8050-9827-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016
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