by Jim Whalley ; illustrated by Stephen Collins ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 19, 2019
Overall, a bubbly and imaginatively illustrated read-aloud.
Baby Frank wants a pet, and the only way he can get one is by robbing a bank.
Frank loves animals, but his parents refuse to get him a pet—they are too expensive to keep. While doing errands with his mom, Frank realizes the only way to get money to buy and care for a pet is to rob a bank. So he crawls past the guards and lasers at the bank and stuffs his black-and-white–striped onesie suit with bills and coins. He purchases a pet meerkat online and hides her in his room—but that’s just the start. Soon his animal shopping gets out of control, and Frank is caught hiding a rhino. His family has to pay back the bank, so they open a zoo in their home and backyard and charge admission. In the end, Frank understands stealing is wrong, and he spends his time at the zoo leading tours and cleaning up poop. The story is silly and imaginative. Written in rhyme, this book has great rhythm and flow, making it an excellent read-aloud. Although there is punishment for Frank’s actions, the story leaves plenty of room to have conversations about stealing, consequences, and keeping wild animals as pets. Collins’ somewhat-retro mixed-media illustrations add life to the story, maximizing the silliness of a bald, white baby not yet able to walk who is also a criminal mastermind.
Overall, a bubbly and imaginatively illustrated read-aloud. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 19, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0062-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Nov. 20, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2018
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by Karma Wilson ; illustrated by Jane Chapman ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 16, 2024
Cheery fun that will leave series fans “egg”-static.
In his latest outing, Bear and his pals go in search of eggs.
Bear “lumbers with his friends through the Strawberry Vale.” Raven finds a nest; climbing up, “The bear finds eggs!”: a refrain that appears throughout. Instead of eating the robin’s eggs, however, Bear leaves a gift of dried berries in the nest for the “soon-to-be-chicks.” Next, the friends find 10 mallard eggs (as bright blue as the robin’s), and Bear leaves sunflower seeds. Then the wail of Mama Meadowlark, whose bright yellow undercarriage strikes a warm golden note, leads them to promise to find her lost eggs. With his friends’ assistance, Bear finds one, and they decide to paint them “so they aren’t lost again.” Another is discovered, painted, and placed in Hare’s basket. After hours of persistent searching, Bear suddenly spots the remaining two eggs “in a small patch of clover.” Before they can return these eggs, the chicks hatch and rejoin their mother. Back at his lair, Bear, with his troupe, is visited by all 17 chicks and the robin, mallard, and meadowlark moms: “And the bear finds friends!” Though this sweet spring tale centers on finding and painting eggs, it makes no overt references to Easter. The soft green and blue acrylics, predictable rhymes, and rolling rhythm make this series installment another low-key natural read-aloud.
Cheery fun that will leave series fans “egg”-static. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 16, 2024
ISBN: 9781665936552
Page Count: 40
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
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by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2022
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
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by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson
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