Free to be Big Bob, Little Bob, and Blossom.
Friendship transcends gender norms.
When Big Bob moves next door, Little Bob is leery of befriending him. The main problem isn't their size difference, it’s that they enjoy different things. Without malice apparent in the cheery, digital cartoon depictions of the smiling, light-skinned boys, Big Bob tells Little Bob, “Boys do not play with dolls….They play with trucks.” Little Bob isn’t persuaded and continues playing with his dolls, but Big Bob’s antics with his trucks and a ball destroy Little Bob’s playtime tableaux. Big Bob apologizes and explains, “You were supposed to catch the ball,” but Little Bob responds that he’s not good at playing catch. They can’t find common ground in attempts at shared activities, but this lack of connection never seems rooted in animosity, even when Big Bob remarks on Little Bob’s wearing a dress. Then Blossom, also light-skinned, moves in nearby, and she teases Little Bob about playing with dolls. This time, he’s hurt, and Big Bob comes to his defense: “Boys can do whatever they want!” Chagrined, she leaves, but Little Bob calls her back. Blossom returns, sharing that she likes playing with trucks, which Big Bob affirms since “Girls can do whatever they want, too.” The children then happily engage in play with their various toys, offering an ending that seems righteous if a bit forced.
Free to be Big Bob, Little Bob, and Blossom. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Oct. 11, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4436-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Aug. 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2016
A poignant tale of loss overshadowed by missteps.
After his father’s sudden death, Malcolm must learn to deal with his grief.
Malcolm loves caring for plants with Dad, especially Big Mon, Dad’s monstera. Though Malcolm sometimes becomes impatient waiting for the plants to grow, Dad often says, “Good things taken time.” After Dad dies, Malcolm inherits his plants. However, his overzealous watering causes Big Mon’s bright green leaves to droop and yellow, mirroring the boy’s feelings. Frustrated, he stops caring for the plants altogether and resigns himself to buying a new monstera. As he spends more time with his friends, he notices the plants beginning to grow once more. His willingness to give his plants—and himself—some time allows them all to feel better. Though this story deals with an important topic—the death of a parent—many readers will be distracted with questions, as the book never explains why Malcolm’s father died. The warm-toned illustrations convey the loving relationship between Malcolm and his father as well as the boy’s pain, but on one page, Dad notes how rare variegation is on a monstera leaf, but the image depicts several plants with variegation. The backmatter includes a helpful glossary of plant terms, though the entry for the snake plant offers the alternative name mother-in-law’s tongue with the unfortunate misogynistic parenthetical note, “Don’t worry, you’ll understand why, one day.” (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A poignant tale of loss overshadowed by missteps. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2023
ISBN: 9780593403648
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2023
Everyone’s indeed a winner here, and the subtle message about safety consciousness is likewise right on track.
A battered old tricycle and a new bike make friends—but not without hitting a few bumps in the road.
Lulu and Trike have been together for years…but Lulu keeps getting bigger, and one day a brand-new birthday bike sails into the garage: “Watch this trick,” he crows, popping a wheelie and zooming through Hula Hoop. Ignoring Trike’s cautions about safety (“Aw, back off, old-timer”), Bike proposes a riderless race to the nearby woods. And so they’re off, with Trike struggling to keep up (“You can DO this,” he tells himself, “for Lulu and the way the two of us flew”). Then, seeing Bike careening heedlessly toward a cliff, Trike selflessly puts on an extra burst of speed to head off disaster with a mighty collision. “I guess I have a lot to learn,” says penitent Bike, and back to the garage they go, “two winners on wheels.” Verdick tells the tale in a characteristic mix of exuberant sound effects and euphonic phrasing, with short sentences making the relatively high page count fly. Along with kitting out shiny Bike with splendid streamers, lights, training wheels, and even a horn, Biggs pairs Lulu at the end with an equally thrilled little brother (both white) just the right size for a hand-me-down.
Everyone’s indeed a winner here, and the subtle message about safety consciousness is likewise right on track. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5344-1517-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Nov. 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2019
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