This quiet exploration will leave readers and listeners with a cozy sense of connection and belonging while also...
A seafaring cat learns the meaning of home.
Vincent, an orange cat with wide eyes, is capable of complex thought but not otherwise anthropomorphized. He enjoys life aboard a cargo vessel but is curious about the sailors’ oft-voiced longing for “home.” So he decides to follow one of them off the ship so that he can find out just where Home is and what all the fuss is about. The Bagleys include subtle visual clues that although he’s unaware of it, Vincent has a fine home already. From the name of the ship (Domus) to the appearance of the cheerfully whistling white captain in the background to Vincent’s admission that the captain’s cabin is his “favorite place,” the evidence suggests that if “Home is where the people who love you are,” then Vincent need search no longer. As in previous titles, an idea that could come across as saccharine benefits from a straightforward text and matter-of-fact tone. The expansive setting allows for a range of engaging scenes, from a charmingly old-fashioned–looking world map to hillside towns, tropical islands, icy landscapes, and starry nights at sea. Realistic pen-and-watercolor illustrations vary in size and placement and effectively combine soft textures and crisp lines.
This quiet exploration will leave readers and listeners with a cozy sense of connection and belonging while also acknowledging the thrill of new vistas. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Feb. 13, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-62672-780-9
Page Count: 37
Publisher: Neal Porter/Roaring Brook
Review Posted Online: Nov. 21, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2017
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...
Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.
The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 21, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...
Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.
First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.
Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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