The irony of a story about digital distraction presented on the iPad won't be lost on readers, and, like a lot of the...
Three kids—Anna, Gino and Mark—are stressed out by the demands of modern student life and the distractions of the digital age. Their lives are therefore improved when a passing comet renders all the technology in their town of Sourapple useless.
The friends find that they'd rather go outside, making out shapes from clouds and playing hide and seek. It's a nice message, shown in simplified, modern cartoon art and well-executed sound effects that represent many of our modern conveniences as annoying, bleating boxes. The app's art style and sprightly interactive elements are nearly enough to make readers forget that every page is burdened with far too much redundant, overwritten text. Mark, for instance, "was a busy bee! He had school in the mornings, followed by afternoon lessons for violin, swimming and French. Not to forget football training and his school homework of course!" The English narrator is a young boy, an effect that is charming at first, then increasingly grating as the text goes on and on (and on). There's also a set of navigation icons that, confusingly, move to different parts of the page depending on the scene. The app is stuffed with extras, from coloring pages to videos; "The Comet Song," presented with lyrics, is as catchy as it is endless.
The irony of a story about digital distraction presented on the iPad won't be lost on readers, and, like a lot of the technology we have that's unaffected by passing comets, the app itself is a bit of a mixed blessing. (iPad storybook app. 3-7)Pub Date: Feb. 13, 2012
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: bitLuna
Review Posted Online: March 27, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2012
It’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how many mediocre sequels you can squeeze out of Seussian property.
Since a reformed Grinch is hardly any fun, this follow-up Grinches him up once more.
Those seeking more of the same, prepare to receive precisely that. Christmas is coming (again!), and the Grinch can hardly wait. He’s been patient all year, and now he can finally show the Whos down in Who-ville how much he’s changed. When the Grinch learns of a tree-decorating contest, he figures that if he wins, it’ll prove he truly has the Christmas spirit. He throws himself into the task, but when it comes time to judge the trees, the Grinch is horrified to discover that he’s received only the second-place trophy. Can Cindy-Lou Who find the words to save the day? Replicating many of the original beats and wordplay of the original, this tale feels like less a sequel and more like a vaguely rewritten variation. Meanwhile, Ruiz’s art seeks to bridge the gap between the animated Chuck Jones version of the Grinch and the one depicted in the original book. This thankless task results in a strange uncanny valley between Seuss and Jones but does allow the artist a chance to colorize everything and lend some racial diversity to the Who population (Cindy-Lou is light-skinned). (This book was reviewed digitally.)
It’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how many mediocre sequels you can squeeze out of Seussian property. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9780593563168
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2023
Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story.
A home-renovation project is interrupted by a family of wrens, allowing a young girl an up-close glimpse of nature.
Renata and her father enjoy working on upgrading their bathroom, installing a clawfoot bathtub, and cutting a space for a new window. One warm night, after Papi leaves the window space open, two wrens begin making a nest in the bathroom. Rather than seeing it as an unfortunate delay of their project, Renata and Papi decide to let the avian carpenters continue their work. Renata witnesses the birth of four chicks as their rosy eggs split open “like coats that are suddenly too small.” Renata finds at a crucial moment that she can help the chicks learn to fly, even with the bittersweet knowledge that it will only hasten their exits from her life. Rosen uses lively language and well-chosen details to move the story of the baby birds forward. The text suggests the strong bond built by this Afro-Latinx father and daughter with their ongoing project without needing to point it out explicitly, a light touch in a picture book full of delicate, well-drawn moments and precise wording. Garoche’s drawings are impressively detailed, from the nest’s many small bits to the developing first feathers on the chicks and the wall smudges and exposed wiring of the renovation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)
Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: March 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-12320-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021
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