The Runaway Radish (who, spoiler alert, doesn't exactly make it out of the story intact) is entertainingly chaotic, and this...
Although markedly different in tone and style from most iPad storybook apps (though no less worthy), this English-and-Spanish tale of a food sculptor and a mischievous, fast-moving root vegetable is fun and has some features that make it worth multiple readings.
When Don Pedro tries to sculpt an elaborate scene, including a castle and knights, out of radishes, one of the veggies springs to life and runs for the hills. The ensuing chase, which eventually involves a donkey, a group of mariachi musicians, a chef and a street vendor is silly enough. But the reality-bending illustrations are appropriately over-the-top, and the giant radish's cry—"Places to go, people to see. / Out of my way, you can't carve ME!"—is catchy. In addition to the usual interactive features, including optional narration, a pop-up page index and mute-able background audio, it has two good options for younger readers. It can be read in English and Spanish and even includes bilingual flash cards for some of the words used in the story. But best of all, its "English learner" and "Spanish learner" options slow down the tempo of the narration, making it easier to follow along with the text. If there's a quibble with the app it's that the text's font itself is too small and doesn't serve the style of the art well. A matching game is included.
The Runaway Radish (who, spoiler alert, doesn't exactly make it out of the story intact) is entertainingly chaotic, and this “Gingerbread Man” variant is a good effort in both Spanish and English. (iPad storybook app. 3-8)Pub Date: March 19, 2011
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Siena Entertainment
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet if slightly fluffy Easter treat with a sprinkle of kindness on top.
Familiar characters from the Sesame Street television show join a rabbit and a turtle in an Easter morning race and celebration.
The race participants include eight well-known characters from Sesame Street, joined by several animals. As soon as the race gets started, a gray rabbit leads the group, and a turtle immediately lags behind. The rabbit surreptitiously provides a different distraction for each race participant, while the turtle plods along, aiming for a win with his “slow and steady” pace. The bunny can be spotted in each of these encounters, magically producing treats, toys, and a maypole to distract the runners. The turtle finishes first, with the bunny bringing up the rear and then providing a spread of Easter baskets and goodies for all to share. The rabbit is not identified as the Easter Bunny, and the fable of “The Tortoise and the Hare” is not specifically referenced, but these omissions give a quiet, extra layer of meaning for adults to explain or for children to discover on their own. The short, rhyming text establishes a cheerful tone and includes humor and dialogue appropriate to the characters. Jaunty illustrations have a hand-drawn look with scratchy highlights in animal fur and grass, and Elmo in a bunny suit on the cover draws Sesame Street fans into the story.
A sweet if slightly fluffy Easter treat with a sprinkle of kindness on top. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4926-3837-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Jan. 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, if oft-told, story.
A plush toy rabbit bonds with a boy and watches him grow into adulthood.
The boy receives the blue bunny for his birthday and immediately becomes attached to it. Unbeknownst to him, the ungendered bunny is sentient; it engages in dialogue with fellow toys, giving readers insight into its thoughts. The bunny's goal is to have grand adventures when the boy grows up and no longer needs its company. The boy spends many years playing imaginatively with the bunny, holding it close during both joyous and sorrowful times and taking it along on family trips. As a young man, he marries, starts a family, and hands over the beloved toy to his toddler-aged child in a crib. The bunny's epiphany—that he does not need to wait for great adventures since all his dreams have already come true in the boy's company—is explicitly stated in the lengthy text, which is in many ways similar to The Velveteen Rabbit (1922). The illustrations, which look hand-painted but were digitally created, are moderately sentimental with an impressionistic dreaminess (one illustration even includes a bunny-shaped cloud in the sky) and a warm glow throughout. The depiction of a teenage male openly displaying his emotions—hugging his beloved childhood toy for example—is refreshing. All human characters present as White expect for one of the boy’s friends who is Black.
A sweet, if oft-told, story. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72825-448-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2022
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