by Jill Ross Nadler ; illustrated by Esther van den Berg ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 16, 2020
Repetition, action verbs, and onomatopoeia make this a fun read-aloud.
An old Yiddish folktale is reset.
A spare retelling of a tale perhaps best known from Margot Zemach’s It Could Always Be Worse (1976), beloved by many storytellers, opens this book. In it, a shtetl dweller goes to the rabbi for advice about his noisy household but finally learns to appreciate the din. In this version, updated to a 21st-century library, young Stevie is trying to read in a quiet environment, away from his siblings. Alas, a storyteller interrupts his peace by intoning those special words, “Once upon a time.” Stevie complains about the ensuing “party,” which leads the librarian to open a book—out of which pop noisy partygoers. Stevie then complains that he is in a zoo, which prompts the librarian to open the book again, and out pops a noisy menagerie. Stevie next complains about the circus, which yields a noisy array of circus performers. Totally exasperated, Stevie yells at the librarian, who answers in her very best librarian voice, and all the creatures reenter the book, which she then hands to Stevie. With just the swishing of pages, the tapping of computer keys, and the storyteller’s voice—soft, now, by comparison to the chaos—Stevie has his peace and quiet. Stevie and the librarian are white, and other children are diversely represented. The illustrations are colorful and fill the pages to bursting with silliness.
Repetition, action verbs, and onomatopoeia make this a fun read-aloud. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 16, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-951365-02-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Intergalactic Afikoman
Review Posted Online: April 3, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2020
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by Drew Daywalt ; illustrated by Oliver Jeffers ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 2, 2024
A predictable series entry, mitigated as usual by the protagonists’ perennially energetic positivity.
A holiday-centered spinoff from the duo behind the inspired The Day the Crayons Quit (2013).
With Green Crayon on vacation, how can the waxy ones pull off a colorful St. Patrick’s Day celebration with Duncan, their (unseen) owner? Through their signature combo of cooperation and unwavering enthusiasm, of course. Blue and Yellow collaborate on a field of shamrocks that blends—however spottily—into green. Nearly invisible White Crayon supplies an otherwise unclothed light-skinned leprechaun with undies, and Orange draws a pair of pants that match the wee creature’s iconic beard and hair. Pink applies colors to a vest, and Purple, a natty jacket and boots. Chunky Toddler Crayon contributes a “perfect” scribbly blue hat; Beige and Brown team up for the leprechaun’s harp. In arguably the best bit, Black exuberantly manifests a decidedly unvariegated rainbow, while Gold’s pot of coins is right on the money, hue-wise. Their ardor undimmed by the holiday’s missing customary color, everyone assembles to party. Though the repartee among the crayons isn’t as developed as in previous outings, the book hews close to Daywalt and Jeffers’ winning formula, and there’s still enough here to keep readers chuckling. And, in a droll “wait for it” moment nicely calibrated for storytime, Green returns from vacation, sunglasses and suitcase in hand: “Did I miss anything while I was gone?” (The cover illustrations do hint at some Green-inflected remediation.)
A predictable series entry, mitigated as usual by the protagonists’ perennially energetic positivity. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2024
ISBN: 9780593624333
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2023
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New York Times Bestseller
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by Adam Rubin & illustrated by Daniel Salmieri ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 14, 2012
A wandering effort, happy but pointless.
Awards & Accolades
Likes
11
New York Times Bestseller
IndieBound Bestseller
The perfect book for kids who love dragons and mild tacos.
Rubin’s story starts with an incantatory edge: “Hey, kid! Did you know that dragons love tacos? They love beef tacos and chicken tacos. They love really big gigantic tacos and tiny little baby tacos as well.” The playing field is set: dragons, tacos. As a pairing, they are fairly silly, and when the kicker comes in—that dragons hate spicy salsa, which ignites their inner fireworks—the silliness is sillier still. Second nature, after all, is for dragons to blow flames out their noses. So when the kid throws a taco party for the dragons, it seems a weak device that the clearly labeled “totally mild” salsa comes with spicy jalapenos in the fine print, prompting the dragons to burn down the house, resulting in a barn-raising at which more tacos are served. Harmless, but if there is a parable hidden in the dragon-taco tale, it is hidden in the unlit deep, and as a measure of lunacy, bridled or unbridled, it doesn’t make the leap into the outer reaches of imagination. Salmieri’s artwork is fitting, with a crabbed, ethereal line work reminiscent of Peter Sís, but the story does not offer it enough range.
A wandering effort, happy but pointless. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: June 14, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3680-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: March 27, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2012
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