bookshelf

PIRATES DON'T TAKE BATHS

Name: PIRATES DON'T TAKE BATHS
Author: John Segal
ISBN: 978-0-399-25425-3

by John Segal and illustrated by John Segal ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2011

bookshelf

Echoes of Runaway Bunny color this exchange between a bath-averse piglet and his patient mother. Using a strategy that would probably be a nonstarter in real life, the mother deflects her stubborn offspring’s string of bath-free occupational conceits with appeals to reason: “Pirates NEVER EVER take baths!” “Pirates don’t get seasick either. But you do.” “Yeesh. I’m an astronaut, okay?” “Well, it is hard to bathe in zero gravity. It’s hard to poop and pee in zero gravity too!” And so on, until Mom’s enticing promise of treasure in the deep sea persuades her little Treasure Hunter to take a dive. Chunky figures surrounded by lots of bright white space in Segal’s minimally detailed watercolors keep the visuals as simple as the plotline. The language isn’t quite as basic, though, and as it rendered entirely in dialogue—Mother Pig’s lines are italicized—adult readers will have to work hard at their vocal characterizations for it to make any sense. Moreover, younger audiences (any audiences, come to that) may wonder what the piggy’s watery closing “EUREKA!!!” is all about too. Not particularly persuasive, but this might coax a few young porkers to get their trotters into the tub. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: March 1, 2011

ISBN: 978-0-399-25425-3

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Philomel

Review Posted Online: Jan. 25, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2011

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HEALTH & DAILY LIVING

- BOOK REVIEW
FAR FAR AWAY!
by John Segal & illustrated by John Segal

- BOOK REVIEW
ALISTAIR AND KIP’S GREAT ADVENTURE!
by John Segal & illustrated by John Segal

- BOOK REVIEW
THE LONELY MOOSE
by John Segal & illustrated by John Segal

bookshelf

ANIMAL ABC

by Marcus Pfister ; illustrated by Marcus Pfister ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2013

Pfister has a following, so adults who recognize his name will likely be drawn to the (hologram-free) artwork. Others may...

bookshelf

Animal alphabet books abound, so it takes something special to make one stand out; this one doesn’t have it.

First published in Switzerland, this American adaptation highlights each animal’s characteristics in a two-line, first-person rhyme that offers a clue to the identity of the animal depicted above it. “I have scales and a toothy smile. / Just don’t call me crocodile.” Below the rhyme is the animal’s identity: ALLIGATOR. Each page features one animal illustrated in brightly colored paints set against contrasting backgrounds. Textures resembling sponge-paintings add visual interest. Many of the creatures are familiar, but others are unusual, making the guessing-game aspect hard for preschoolers: C for chameleon; J for jaguar; N for numbat; Q for quetzal; R for raven. Unfortunately, two of the animals are imaginary, which disrupts the overall formulation. U is for unicorn and X for “xylophonius”: “Made-up creatures are so much fun. / Give it a try! Can you make one?” As the book lacks backmatter, the only key to identifying the animal is in the rhyme.

Pfister has a following, so adults who recognize his name will likely be drawn to the (hologram-free) artwork. Others may want to choose from among the more classic animal ABCs. (Alphabet book. 4-6)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2013

ISBN: 978-0-7358-4136-9

Page Count: 32

Publisher: NorthSouth

Review Posted Online: July 2, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2013

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
A PENGUIN LIKE ME
by Marcus Pfister ; illustrated by Marcus Pfister ; translated by David Henry Wilson

- BOOK REVIEW
FRANZ-FERDINAND THE DANCING WALRUS
by Marcus Pfister ; illustrated by Marcus Pfister ; translated by David Henry Wilson

- BOOK REVIEW
WHO STOLE THE HAZELNUTS?
by Marcus Pfister ; illustrated by Marcus Pfister ; translated by David Henry Wilson

bookshelf

GOOSE ON THE FARM

From the Sophie and Goose series

by Laura Wall ; illustrated by Laura Wall ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

Fans of the other titles in the series will enjoy this run-of-the-farm story, though it lacks the charm of Tad Hill’s Duck...

bookshelf

The latest book about Sophie and Goose describes an ordinary field trip to a farm.

Sophie and Goose go on a school trip to a farm where they play with the bunnies, feed the lambs, and meet fluffy chicks. Goose, however, feels left out, and then sulking, he gets into trouble: sitting on the hen’s eggs by mistake, plopping into a pig’s muddy puddle, and bumping into a cow. He’s not sure he likes the farm after all, until a friendly goat becomes his sidekick. The farm activities depicted are routine, and so are the animals, except for a peacock. Animal vocalizations punctuate the terse storyline. The charcoal-drawn and digitally colored illustrations are minimalistic, with dots for eyes and short lines for mouths; all humans depicted appear to be white. The spread of the tractor has a dog sitting in the driver’s seat instead of a farmer, (just a boot at page edge), which seems out of step with the other, less-fanciful scenes. It’s the brightly colored illustrations set against vivid backgrounds and the simple shapes outlined in heavy black lines that give the story some zest.

Fans of the other titles in the series will enjoy this run-of-the-farm story, though it lacks the charm of Tad Hill’s Duck and Goose books. (Picture book. 4-6)