This book on scent doesn’t make sense.
In a world of stink, smelling good might be a problem.
Panda Cat, a skunk, lives in Smellsville, where the stinkiest of the stinky is celebrated as the best. Every morning he combs rotten eggs through his hair, dabs moldy mayonnaise under his arms, and brushes his teeth with garlic-and-onion toothpaste before a breakfast of toe jam, rotten apples, and spoiled milk. One day at Smellsville Smellementary School, his friends (a dung beetle, a stinkbird, and a binturong) tell him that his idol, Smellbert Einstink, discoverer of the theory of stinkativity, will be the guest judge at the science fair. Panda Cat wants to impress his hero with the stinkiest experiment…but in trial runs something goes horribly wrong, and the resultant bright pink goo smells deliciously sweet. Panda Cat finds he likes it, but the smell sends his friends running; he can’t admit his preference. Hoping the experiment will work at the fair, he tries again only to produce more pink fluff. He loses but learns, in an earnest articulation of the book’s message, that Einstink didn’t intend stink to completely displace sweet scents. This effort thematically revisits Tharp’s earlier It’s Okay To Be a Unicorn! (2020), although the like-what-you-like message is somewhat muddled by the silly, excessive references to stench. Worse, the book misses the opportunity to examine subjectivity, instead reinforcing the notion that there are good smells and bad smells instead of just smells. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 29.7% of actual size.)
This book on scent doesn’t make sense. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-31133-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Imprint
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A testament to the universality of love.
An expanded explanation of love in both English and Spanish.
Several animal personalities pose the question, “What is love?” and in a series of lift-the-flap responses present various emotional scenarios. Little Elephant asks Spider, “Is it the joy of having you around?” Spider asks, “Is it the way you lift me when I’m down?” Each page corresponds to a flap that reveals one of a multitude of feelings love can evoke in either an English or Spanish rhyme, which are not direct translations of each other. An interspersed refrain notes, “Amor for the Spanish, / and love en inglés. / Love in any language / always means the same.” A palette of pastels and purple and pink hues dominate as hearts abound on each page, surrounding the characters, who are adorable though on the overly sweet side. The characters are from the bilingual preschool series Canticos, though it will work even among those without knowledge of the show. Children more fluent in Spanish will be better able to appreciate this, and those familiar with the show will recognize the signature characters, including “Los Pollitos” (Little Chickies). (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A testament to the universality of love. (Board book. 3-6)Pub Date: Nov. 8, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-945635-72-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily.
A group of young “dinosauruses” go out into the world on their own.
A fuchsia little Hugasaurus and her Pappysaur (both of whom resemble Triceratops) have never been apart before, but Hugasaurus happily heads off with lunchbox in hand and “wonder in her heart” to make new friends. The story has a first-day-of-school feeling, but Hugasaurus doesn’t end up in a formal school environment; rather, she finds herself on a playground with other little prehistoric creatures, though no teacher or adult seems to be around. At first, the new friends laugh and play. But Hugasaurus’ pals begin to squabble, and play comes to a halt. As she wonders what to do, a fuzzy platypus playmate asks some wise questions (“What…would your Pappy say to do? / What makes YOU feel better?”), and Hugasaurus decides to give everyone a hug—though she remembers to ask permission first. Slowly, good humor is restored and play begins anew with promises to be slow to anger and, in general, to help create a kinder world. Short rhyming verses occasionally use near rhyme but also include fun pairs like ripples and double-triples. Featuring cozy illustrations of brightly colored creatures, the tale sends a strong message about appropriate and inappropriate ways to resolve conflict, the final pages restating the lesson plainly in a refrain that could become a classroom motto. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-338-82869-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
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