Although no new concepts are introduced, not only will this title be a favorite at storytime, it may also serve as a...
Yolen and Teague continue their best-selling series with a comic look at what dinosaurs might and then should do when they are angry.
Whether a Barapasaurus sticks his sizable tongue out or a Scaphognathus pouts or a Sauropelta throws things, tantrums and bad behavior come to an end through counting to 10 or having a timeout or breathing calmly. Messes are then cleaned up, apologies are given, and hugs are exchanged. The preschool set will recognize the full spectrum of antics that result from pent-up anger and the occasions that provoke such stormy emotions. The text follows the familiar series format, posing questions to readers: “When he’s told to sit still, does he kick at a chair? / Does he act as if Mother and Father aren’t there?” This invitation to participate will have readers offering their own opinions on appropriate behavior. On full-bleed, double-page spreads, Teague delivers oversized creatures whose sizes and silly expressions make their actions appear all the more outrageous.
Although no new concepts are introduced, not only will this title be a favorite at storytime, it may also serve as a discussion starter about feelings and how best to express and cope with them. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-545-14315-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Blue Sky/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Aug. 27, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2013
Younger siblings of the Mercy chapter-book lovers will find their way into the series with this first look, written just for...
To paraphrase an immortal spider, Mercy is some pig.
Mercy Watson, a “small and not at all ordinary” pig, is already the star of six early chapter books, well-known for her love of buttered toast and, of course, of Mr. and Mrs. Watson, the white couple who care for her. But how did Mercy come to live with the Watsons? And how did they discover her love for buttered toast? Written simply for the pre–chapter-book audience, with big, bright, often full-spread illustrations, this picture book offers an introduction to Mercy, “the porcine wonder,” with all the dramatic expressions and gentle humor of the chapter books and some irresistible pig cuteness sprinkled in for extra charm. Vivid colors cause each illustration to pop, with a retro style to the Watsons’ rosy cheeks, classic car, and rather traditional gender roles (Mrs. Watson vacuums, Mr. Watson polishes the car). An unnamed interracial family seen through a window references two characters introduced as school-age children in the fourth installment of the chapter-book series: Frank and Stella, he as a toddler and she as a baby. Since the target audience for this outing will have no familiarity with them, their presence mostly serves to underscore the otherwise all-white human cast.
Younger siblings of the Mercy chapter-book lovers will find their way into the series with this first look, written just for them . (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: April 2, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-7636-7753-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Feb. 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2019
An affirming and enchanting love letter from parent to child.
A mother marvels at her young son.
With dark flowing hair and deep complexion, the mother lovingly cradles her sleeping baby (both are Asian-presenting). Observing the infant’s hair, she notices it “feels like / dandelion fluff against my fingers.” She hopes that the same hair will “tumble across your head” while he embarks on adventures one day. We see the little one a few years older now, wearing a pair of wings and leading a boat through foam-crested waves. Next, readers again see the smiling infant as the mother observes how his tiny feet “feel like warm rolls / wrapped in the palms of my hands.” The next scene depicts the boy as a toddler tentatively testing the waters on a beach as the mother advises him to “Take your time, sweet boy. / Your courage will be born through fear.” In another scene, the mother tells the hiking boy to “break through vines that bind old growth” and to remember “Your heart is a compass.” Brimming with parental affection and whimsy, the narrative continues in the same vein. The mother’s gentle observations of the boy’s different traits are followed by her hopes and dreams for his future. Pray fills every inch with soft textures and colorful prints, creating stunning images that match the text’s warmth. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An affirming and enchanting love letter from parent to child. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: March 14, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-06-305692-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2023
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