With consistently scanning rhymes, this tale may charm young readers looking for a silly forest adventure.
A thieving squirrel upsets bees who use acorn shells in this rhyming vocabulary sequel from the team of Martin and Walstead (Two Bees on the High Seas, 2018).
Perk, Bing, and their redheaded Mother Bee live in an oak tree, where bees collect the honey dripping from their hive in acorn bowls. Because they only use the shells, the nuts are wasted, set aside to dry and crack. When a squirrel discovers the bees’ acorns, he believes he’s hit the jackpot and takes them to his tree. The dismayed bees look everywhere until Perk and Bing spot the culprit. When the bees confront the squirrel, they learn he was only taking the acorns to feed his family. The bees realize that they’ve been wasteful, and the squirrels agree they only need the nuts, not the shells, resulting in a deal. The idea of striking a balance and sharing resources with neighbors is appealing. But young readers may question why the bees gather their honey in acorn buckets. While the cartoon creatures are suitably kid-friendly, children may wonder why Mother Bee, Perk, and Bing are working without the hard hats most of the other insects sport. In addition, adults may be annoyed at the only-girls-have-eyelashes shortcut used to identify female characters.
With consistently scanning rhymes, this tale may charm young readers looking for a silly forest adventure.Pub Date: May 24, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-71877-117-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: July 24, 2019
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A nice but not requisite purchase.
A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.
Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.
A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Playful, engaging, and full of opportunities for empathy—a raucous storytime hit.
Readers try to dislodge a monster from the pages of this emotive and interactive read-aloud.
“OH NO!” the story starts. “There’s a monster in your book!” The blue, round-headed monster with pink horns and a pink-tipped tail can be seen cheerfully munching on the opening page. “Let’s try to get him out,” declares the narrator. Readers are encouraged to shake, tilt, and spin the book around, while the monster careens around an empty background looking scared and lost. Viewers are exhorted to tickle the monster’s feet, blow on the page, and make a really loud noise. Finally, shockingly, it works: “Now he’s in your room!” But clearly a monster in your book is safer than a monster in your room, so he’s coaxed back into the illustrations and lulled to sleep, curled up under one page and cuddling a bit of another like a child with their blankie. The monster’s entirely cute appearance and clear emotional reactions to his treatment add to the interactive aspect, and some young readers might even resist the instructions to avoid hurting their new pal. Children will be brought along on the monster’s journey, going from excited, noisy, and wiggly to calm and steady (one can hope).
Playful, engaging, and full of opportunities for empathy—a raucous storytime hit. (Picture book. 2-7)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5247-6456-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: June 4, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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