A story that swings and misses at becoming a new holiday tradition.
After being taken from the farm, Piney the Christmas tree tries desperately to get back to the little girl who grew him from a seed.
Grandpa Sid, Georgie, and her pup, Jackster, live in the “town with the longest name in Europe!” Grandpa Sid owns a Christmas tree farm and invites Georgie to plant a tree seed of her own. From that seed, Piney grows, and after four years, Georgie plans to take him home, but he’s accidentally taken from the farm, bound for a tree lot. With the help of Jackster, Piney gets back to Georgie by Christmas Day. One year later, Piney also finds a second life as a book, The Lonesome Pine, written by Grandpa Sid; though the book is made from Piney, he is still alive and still a friend to Georgie. West Bakerink’s book is based on the CGI–animated, Emmy-nominated special Piney: The Lonesome Pine (2019), and the illustrations are stills from this short. Some of the best images are close-ups, like the one of Georgie gazing eagerly at a handful of seeds or the ultrarealistic detailing on her sweater. Otherwise, the images feel disjointed, interrupting the flow of the story. As for the tale itself, the more meaningful relationship seems to be between Georgie and her loving, determined pup, Jackster, even though Piney and his ultimate end as recycled goods are the focus. Grandpa Sid and Georgie are light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A story that swings and misses at becoming a new holiday tradition. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Oct. 11, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-7624-8180-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
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Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
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