Yee Haw! Put on your cowboy boots and hats, buckaroos, and stand back because Cowgirl is gonna help Momma run some errands—cowgirls love to help. Cowgirl helps Momma find her checkbook at the bank; mail letters (most fall on the ground); carry in the dry cleaning (leaving a trail of clothes behind her); holds the grocery list which blows away but remembers everything on the list (jellybeans, marshmallows, ice cream); but then drops the grocery bag of eggs. Good thing for Cowgirl that she has an especially understanding and loving mom. Krosoczka’s exaggerated and comical illustrations have lassoed Cowgirl’s enthusiasm, her Momma’s exasperation and their affectionate bond. From page one, this charmer will tickle and delight kids, big and little, especially those who’ve ever played out a similar fantasy. Ride ’em, cowgirls! (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2006
ISBN: 0-670-06050-X
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2006
Though this celebration of community is joyful, there just is not much here.
A sugary poem, very loosely based on the familiar song, lacks focus.
Using only the refrain from the original (“One love, one heart, let’s get together and feel all right!”), the reggae great’s daughter Cedella Marley sees this song as her “happy song” and adapts it for children. However, the adaptation robs it of life. After the opening lines, readers familiar with the original song (or the tourism advertisement for Jamaica) will be humming along only to be stopped by the bland lines that follow: “One love, what the flower gives the bee.” and then “One love, what Mother Earth gives the tree.” Brantley-Newton’s sunny illustrations perfectly reflect the saccharine quality of the text. Starting at the beginning of the day, readers see a little girl first in bed, under a photograph of Bob Marley, the sun streaming into her room, a bird at the window. Each spread is completely redundant—when the text is about family love, the illustration actually shows little hearts floating from her parents to the little girl. An image of a diverse group getting ready to plant a community garden, walking on top of a river accompanies the words “One love, like the river runs to the sea.”
Though this celebration of community is joyful, there just is not much here. (afterword) (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 5, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4521-0224-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2011
A soothing, bright-as-noon introduction to school that ought to help chase away any shim-shams that first-timers might be experiencing. From the start, Sturges delivers an upbeat note: “School, school, school, / I love school!” and keeps it going strong throughout the simple, rhymed text: “With all my friends I laugh and sing. / I talk about most everything.” Halpern’s artwork is as simple and primary as the verse, with kids going through their day of drawing and the alphabet, lunch, and recess. They celebrate their teacher and their good fortune at having such a neat place to go each day. Some readers will complain that this is a classic piece of avoidance, but its sunny disposition can’t help making school look fun. (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: July 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-06-009284-X
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2004
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2024 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.
bookshelf
