A cheery subversion of fairy-tale tropes.
A dragon really wants to meet a princess, but the princess has her own agenda.
Izmelda, a chubby green dragon in a pink princess dress and pearls, flies off to the nearest kingdom in search of a princess—but Penelope, the princess she finds, is on her way to jester class, and she’s in a hurry to get there before the witches catch up to her. Penelope has brown skin, black hair, polka-dot overalls, and sneakers—not glass slippers—and she’s frustrated by Izmelda’s enthusiasm for typical fairy-tale princess tropes and by the many fans who follow her around. However, Izmelda’s dedication—and her wings—comes in handy when the witches catch up to them, and a friendship is born. Some illustrations are full bleed, while others are vignettes. Izmelda is downright adorable—even her teeth are rounded, not pointy, making for a very gentle story. (The witches’ hats are pointy, but even they don’t pose a threat worse than a delay.) Whether readers empathize more with fairy-tale–loving Izmelda or independent Penelope, they will enjoy the humorous dynamic, the eventual friendship, and the reminder that it’s important to make time for cupcakes (the endpapers feature an array). The ending isn’t quite as satisfying as the buildup, but readers will be pleased to see that it leaves room for a sequel. Human characters are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A cheery subversion of fairy-tale tropes. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Jan. 10, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-4549-4352-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2022
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Warm but underdone.
In this picture book from actor Gyllenhaal and his partner, Caruso, a child and his uncle bond on a fantastic journey.
Leo, an avid dancer, is dismayed when Uncle Mo visits—he’s in town for a “rubber band convention.” Illustrations show both with wavy brown hair and light tan skin. Not only does Leo think his uncle is rather dull, he’s also leery of Uncle Mo’s many rules. A rather abrupt narrative shift occurs when the pair inexplicably drive into another dimension. Here they encounter Great-Aunt Gloria (who is very tall and presents Black) and Uncle Munkle Carbunkle (who is very short and light-skinned), who guide them through the Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles. Unimpressed with Uncle Mo, Great-Aunt Gloria says he must take a quiz on “Auntieology and Uncleology.” After several wrong answers, Uncle Mo has a final chance at redemption: He must state his nephew’s favorite activity. When Leo springs into action to dance for his clueless uncle, a mishap leaves him mortified and un-bespectacled. Enter Uncle Mo to save the day by using a rubber band to secure Leo’s glasses. While Santat’s energetic illustrations do much to clarify the narrative, they can’t fully make up for the disjointed storytelling—it’s never clear why the two have entered this dimension or why Leo is suddenly so eager to help Uncle Mo. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Warm but underdone. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781250776990
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
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