Anyone who’s ever felt like the world’s smallest giant will find something to like in this book and will enjoy being...
Children who thought they could never identify with a giant may be surprised by this classically Dahl-esque British import.
Muncle Trogg is the world’s smallest giant, and he may also be the smartest. He’s the only giant who isn’t afraid of little human schoolgirls. Actually, he’s the only giant who’s ever met one. Everyone else is terrified of the “Smallings” and their magic killing sticks. But Muncle goes to visit a human town for himself, to see if he could decipher the letters in their books of magic. Curious, open-minded and no bigger than a Smalling, Muncle is hated by every other giant. Even his brother likes to dangle him upside-down for fun. This, of course, makes him the ideal hero for a children’s book. Even the most rosy-spectacled readers will be astounded at how many feats of glory he pulls off in 224 pages. The many surprises are the book’s greatest strength, but also its weakness. The action sometimes feels haphazard. Just how did Muncle get from the floor show at a royal banquet to the bottom of a volcano in only a few chapters? Then again, life is haphazard.
Anyone who’s ever felt like the world’s smallest giant will find something to like in this book and will enjoy being astounded on every page. (Fantasy. 7-10)Pub Date: March 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-545-37800-0
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Chicken House/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2012
For settings where the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series has ravenous fans.
A girl goes on an unexpected journey to save her little sister in this series opener.
Pacey Packer daydreams of being the “brave and powerful” Lady Pacey, vanquishing foes and “bringing peace and justice to the world all by herself.” Tasked with babysitting her younger sister, Mina, adventure-loving Pacey refuses to play tea party with Mina and her plush unicorn. But when she tries to relent, Pacey walks in on Mina being ferried out the window by a real live unicorn! Equally shockingly, Mina’s unicorn toy is actually Slasher, a real unicorn who has been transfigured into the body of a plushie and can talk. Pacey follows them, but just as they arrive in the unicorn land of Rundalyn, Pacey and Slasher are separated from Mina. With snarky Slasher as her guide, Pacey uses her sense of adventure to brave carnivorous plants, oversized fauna, and other dangers to reach Mina. When Slasher and Pacey arrive at the Alpha unicorn’s castle, a Mr. Tumnus–esque betrayal by Slasher reveals the cruel, haughty Alpha’s plan to turn Pacey and her sister into stone statues. It’s up to Pacey and her sister to save themselves, combining their styles of imaginative play. Two-color illustrations (a dull grape purple with black and white) lack the magic and energy that the story really needs, flattening the already two-dimensional style and lacking a clear intentionality. Pacey and Mina both have pale skin and straight, black hair.
For settings where the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series has ravenous fans. (Graphic fantasy. 7-10)Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-9848-5054-6
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 2, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2020
A charming undersea tale stressing the importance of not being sel-fish.
A self-serving squid learns a lesson about friendship.
Set many leagues under the sea on a bright and cheery ocean bed, this series opener introduces Squizzard, a tomato-red squid with an outsize personality. His best friend is Toothy, a vegetarian great white shark who has legs and wears pants. They may be fish and cephalopod, but the routines of their friendship are familiar: They hunt for shells, build reef forts, and concoct elaborate games of pretend. However, a power imbalance is quickly evident as Squizzard casts himself in all the best roles, always leaving Toothy overshadowed. When Squizzard carelessly forgets his report and asks Toothy to cover for him in class, Toothy finally gets mad and declares their friendship over. With the help and gentle guidance of a kind seahorse, Squizzard decides to find the right path to win Toothy back. Readers will delight as Squizzard tries to change his egotistical ways; it is not a quick nor easy transition, and his silly missteps ring comically true. Author/illustrator Sherry brings an empathetic tale of self-examination and change to life with easy-to-read chapters and an eye-catching comics format, with colors by Dzioba. Sherry also skillfully weaves facts about ocean life into the narrative. Bubbly and undeniably cute, this is a must-read for fans of the Narwhal and Jelly series.
A charming undersea tale stressing the importance of not being sel-fish. (Graphic fantasy. 7-10)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-338-63668-0
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 2, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
