Sure to support little ones’ reading habits.
Can a creature of habit change his ways?
The eponymous creature, who lives a solitary life on the island of Habit, is a big, unspecified, anthropomorphic being. With his pink nose, buck teeth, and two feathery ears, he looks more like a white rabbit than an old dog, but he is decidedly averse to learning new tricks. Opening pages establish how he happily sticks to a very strict daily regimen of foods (three pineapples and two bananas, twice a day) and activities (greeting fish, trees, rocks, and a crab, and collecting shells). Then a new, small creature arrives by boat and shakes things up a bit. At first, the small creature, who looks like a blue fuzzball with pipestem limbs and green spectacles, tries out the creature of Habit’s routine, but by the second day, he is eating new foods, exploring new places, and spontaneously pursuing his heart’s content. The big creature is overwhelmed by the small one’s antics, and a climactic spread shows him in a close-up, waving his short arms in the air with text that exclaims, “IT WAS ABSOLUTE MADNESS!” After this comical outburst, the big creature starts to follow the small one around and is both charmed and persuaded to try a few new things himself. The rewards for this flexibility are manifold, with companionship being the most important. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Sure to support little ones’ reading habits. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Nov. 9, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-17305-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House Studio
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A good choice for offering comfort and support to a budding perfectionist.
Can anyone be perfect?
Beatrice Bottomwell always does everything right. “Most people in town didn’t even know Beatrice’s name. They just called her ‘The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes,’ because for as long as anyone could remember, she never did.” One Thursday though, she almost does something wrong (she drops some eggs while cooking at school but catches them just in time). Straightforward text describes Beatrice’s predicament as, unnerved, she ponders her almost-error and begins to worry. What if she really does do something wrong? Brightly colored watercolors and gentle humor combine to portray Beatrice’s eventful day, her growing fear and her sprightly pet hamster. During a school talent show, Beatrice finally makes a real mistake—in front of everyone. How will she cope? Learning how to relax enough to laugh and simply be herself just might do the trick. While the plot is predictable and the solution to the problem fairly pat, this is a well-intentioned story, full of acceptance and goodwill. It will be especially useful in a therapeutic setting; it may be a real comfort to a child who is afraid of making mistakes, while children dealing with similar issues will also find reassurance here.
A good choice for offering comfort and support to a budding perfectionist. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5544-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2011
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