A daffy paean to teamwork.
A little green monster is stymied by a big red rock.
Small, horned Bif is walking along, munching on his breakfast cereal, when he bumps into the titular impediment, which blocks the path. Yelling at the rock doesn’t cause it to move, and neither does asking it politely. Bif “kicks,” “bashes,” “pushes,” and “pesters” the rock, to no avail. Blue Bop comes along and summons the Big Red Rock Eater, but her loose tooth prevents her from making much headway. The Small Blue Rock Singer has a powerful voice, but it can’t budge the rock. Neither can the Yellow Rock Crusher, the Green Rock Driller, the Orange Rock Scarer, the Pink Rock Sucker, the Purple Rock Tickler, nor even the Big Red Rocket. The monsters give up and decide to play, dancing in a conga line and finding themselves suddenly on the other side of the rock. But now Bif wants to finish his breakfast, and that big red rock is in the way….Stockham’s wry fable may leave its protagonist unenlightened, but child readers will have seen the obvious solution and will be thrilled at their perspicacity. The monsters are a totally un-frightening if snaggle-toothed bunch, benign smiles eliciting giggles rather than screams. They are defined by thick, soft, gray lines, while the rock is an imposing red blob textured by what looks like charcoal or black crayon.
A daffy paean to teamwork. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-78628-003-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Child's Play
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
A muddled message shoots for the moon but never quite gets all the way off the ground.
A little mouse experiences BIG changes thanks to a spectacular talent.
Dee’s a singer to her core. She croons absolutely everywhere, so when her teacher Miss Pink suggests that her students bring in something that symbolizes what they enjoy doing, Dee brings in a song. As she sings it, however, her joy causes her to physically grow huge! At first this makes her feel special, but as the day goes on she feels lonely and out of place. Shrinking back to her normal size, she worries that this means she can never sing again. But thanks to the encouragement of her mother and little sister, she realizes that being special is nothing to be ashamed of. However, though her classmates have skills of their own, only Dee changes, indicating that some talents are more transformative than others. After all, while everyone is enthralled by Dee, Ren the turtle’s talent for drawing a replica of a space station is something he “made everyone watch.” The true standout in this show comes from Sinquett’s dynamic art, capable of encompassing the emotional highs and lows of elementary school kids. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A muddled message shoots for the moon but never quite gets all the way off the ground. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-368-07806-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
Simple acts of kindness that warm the heart.
“Kindness is sometimes / a cup and a card.” Wait! What?
Yes, kindness is a cup and a card—when someone uses them to gently trap a ladybug inside and release it outside. With a simple rhyming text and softly colored illustrations of community scenes, each page shows neighbors, professionals, and strangers modeling simple acts of kindness toward people and animals. A child rakes leaves for an older neighbor, another brings soup to someone who is “sneezy,” and one even shares a book via a clever bucket delivery system. As neighboring businesses, a flower seller swaps a bouquet for peaches with a grocer. A fireman rescues a cat from a tree, park security helps a lost child, and an ice cream vendor gives a cone to a young skater who has fallen. Even strangers act with kindness and return a dropped key, snap a picture for a vacationing family, and adopt a dog that “others ignore.” From infants to grandparents, people in this busy and diverse community come together to enjoy one another and their common interests. Illustrations show a girl wearing a hijab, a child in a wheelchair playing badminton with friends, and interracial families.
Simple acts of kindness that warm the heart. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 29, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-250-23789-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Godwin Books
Review Posted Online: June 29, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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