Once young ones catch on to what’s happening, they will no doubt demand repeat reads—followed by much switching on and off...
A little hedgehog stars in an interactive bedtime story.
As the book opens, the hedgehog is fast asleep in bed, surrounded by toys, when an unseen someone turns on the light. “Turn off that light!” he yells, and it goes out—only to be turned back on. This sequence repeats itself again and again! Who is doing it—the toys scattered about the room? No, the word CLICK at the top of the verso is the clue—it’s you, the readers. It may take some adult help for young listeners to catch up with that device, but the black double-page spreads lit with white speech balloons that alternate with the colorful scenes of the bedroom and toys effectively establish the setup. The hedgehog becomes more and more unraveled by the proceedings, making considerable mayhem and even uttering maniacal laughter as it attempts to take control of the situation. The ending is a surprise, possibly even a letdown, as hedgehog’s dilemma is resolved with a glass of water. The digital illustrations depict the hedgehog with a brush of bristles, big eyes, and tiny legs; the palette is surprisingly subdued for such a manic setup, dominated by grays and pastels, but the graphic-novel–style layout effectively uses panels to amp up the energy.
Once young ones catch on to what’s happening, they will no doubt demand repeat reads—followed by much switching on and off of the lights. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-77147-101-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
A nice but not requisite purchase.
A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.
Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.
A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A tender bedtime tale set in a too-seldom-seen northern world.
A quiet book for putting young children to bed in a state of snowy wonder.
The magic of the north comes alive in a picture book featuring Inuit characters. In the sky at nighttime, snow falls fast. / … / In the sky at nighttime, a raven roosts atop a tall building. / … / In the sky at nighttime, a mother’s delicate song to her child arises like a gentle breeze.” With the repetition of the simple, titular refrain, the author envisions what happens in a small town at night: Young children see their breath in the cold; a hunter returns on his snowmobile; the stars dazzle in the night sky. A young mother rocks her baby to sleep with a song and puts the tot down with a trio of stuffed animals: hare, polar bear, seal. The picture book evokes a feeling of peace as the street lamps, northern lights, and moon illuminate the snow. The illustrations are noteworthy for the way they meld the old world with what it looks like to be a modern Indigenous person: A sled dog and fur-lined parkas combine easily with the frame houses, a pickup truck, power lines, and mobile-hung crib. By introducing Indigenous characters in an unremarkably familiar setting, the book reaches children who don’t always see themselves in an everyday context.
A tender bedtime tale set in a too-seldom-seen northern world. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-77227-238-3
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Inhabit Media
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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