This fish story smells stale already.
Big brother shark thinks quickly and saves the day.
Gilbert the great white shark wants to take his new little brother, Finn, everywhere with him, but Gilbert's friend Rita Remora wants nothing to do the tyke, who, in her opinion, is too small to play with them. Indeed, Finn struggles on the see-saw and is too slight to play finball. He does like the seaweed swing, which Rita and Gilbert strap him into so that they can go skating. All of a sudden, the sea goes as dark as night and all the fish scatter; it's a killer whale! And he spots Finn, still strapped into the swing. Gilbert grabs the seaweed holding Finn just in time, but the whale doesn't give up. He chases Rita, Gilbert and Finn, who speed to a sunken fishing boat and elude the orca. All seems safe, but Gilbert gets a little panicky when he can't find Finn and Rita. They pop out of a barrel, laughing. Rita and Finn have become friends, and the trio swims off together. This slapdash story of brotherly love is not improved by undistinguished illustrations or a chase scene that feels an awful lot like any number of animated kids’ movies. The copyright page includes interesting facts about sharks, but their placement makes them likely to be overlooked.
This fish story smells stale already. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4027-8040-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sterling
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2011
Relatable bedtime fare.
In this picture book from comedian Gatto, a little one embarks on a nighttime detective caper while also learning some calming techniques.
Tucked into bed, a light-skinned youngster with a mop of brown hair is almost ready to go to sleep, but something’s missing. Eyes wide, mouth agape, the child wonders, “Where’s Bearry?” The snuggly teddy is lost. Armed with a household map and magnifying glass and trailed by a pup sidekick, the tot searches high and low. “He’s not in the playroom / with my robot and blocks. / He’s not in the hamper / with all the stinky socks.” More searching comes up empty, and the increasingly distraught narrator worries, “Maybe he took a trip on the ferry? / Oh no! I’m freaking out! // WHERE’S BEARRY?!?!” Luckily, the youngster remembers to take a deep breath and count down from three. These actions help soothe the intrepid detective, and suddenly, all becomes clear. (Spoiler alert: Bearry is found.) The jaunty, singsong text trips up a bit here and there but propels the mystery forward. Flowers’ colorful art captures the wide range of emotions the youngster experiences: sadness, panic, serenity, and relief.
Relatable bedtime fare. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2024
ISBN: 9780593750193
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2024
Sweet and silly—good enough for Halloween
The barnyard animals love Halloween. Farmer Brown does not. Sounds like the perfect time for tricks and treats!
Since Farmer Brown wants nothing to do with the scary holiday, “he leaves a bowl of candy on the porch….draws the shades and locks the door.” Out in the barn, though, the party is just getting started. Saturated watercolors show Cow dressed as a skeleton, the chickens looking quite ghostly and the sheep donning witch hats. As field mice and cats arrive, creepy sounds begin. The “crunch, crunch, crunching” and the “creak, creak, creaking” lead to a “tap, tap, tapping.” Hearing them, Farmer Brown peeks out his window to investigate. Readers will chuckle and easily recognize “the dark creature standing beneath the trees.” The farmer, however, runs to his bedroom to pull the covers up over his head. Now the sounds repeat, as the figure comes closer. This time, though, the tapping is followed by a “quack, quack, quackle.” Wait—“Quackle??” Farmer Brown goes out to the porch to find the candy bowl gone and a note on the door announcing, “Halloween Party at the barn!” The chorus of onomatopoeic phrases throughout the briskly paced text guarantees an interactive read-aloud, though fans of Duck’s earlier outings will miss their satiric bite.
Sweet and silly—good enough for Halloween . (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4424-6553-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: July 16, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2013
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