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
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
Adults wishing to expand the worldviews of their young charges beyond Eurocentric interpretations will find plenty of visual...
A retelling of the classic fairy tale with India as its setting.
This latest addition to the Once Upon A World series tells the well-known story of the maiden with beautiful long tresses locked away in a tower by an evil witch and the prince who falls in love with her. As with Perkins’ Cinderella (illustrated by Sandra Equihua, 2016) and Snow White (illustrated by Misa Saburi, 2016), the text has been simplified for a younger audience, and the distinguishing twist here is its setting in India. The mixed-media illustrations of plants, animals, village life, and, of course, Rapunzel, the witch, and the prince come alive in warm, saturated colors. Other than the visuals, there is little to differentiate the story from traditional tellings. As always, it is still the prince who will eventually lead Rapunzel to her salvation by taking her to his kingdom far away from the witch, but that is the nature of fairy tales. The only quibble with this book and indeed with this series is the board-book format. Given the fact that the audience most likely to enjoy it is beyond the board-book age, a full-size book would have done more justice to the vibrant artwork.
Adults wishing to expand the worldviews of their young charges beyond Eurocentric interpretations will find plenty of visual delights in this one, though they’ll wish it were bigger. (Board book. 3-5)Pub Date: March 21, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4814-9072-6
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: April 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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