Wriggly Pig can't keep still: he's a pain in the car, kicks sand at the beach, and distresses other customers in the cafÇ to which his family is foolish enough to take him. At wits' end, they consult a doctor (a patient-looking goat) from whom Wriggly bolts so fast that he knocks himself out on an inconveniently placed mailbox. By the time he comes to, his parents are glad to have him squirm, whereas he—in a burst of unlikely resolution- -vows to ``try to keep still.'' Despite the contrived outcome, similar sufferers will enjoy seeing themselves (or their young) so amusingly depicted—especially in the nonstop activity evoked by Jenkin-Pearce's irrepressibly wiggly fine lines and splashes of color. (Picture book. 3-7)
Pub Date: May 22, 1992
ISBN: 0-688-11295-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Morrow/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1992
BOOK REVIEW
A fun story with plenty of little-kid appeal.
A freshly-hatched dragon causes pyrotechnic trouble in this equally interactive follow-up to There’s a Monster in Your Book (2017).
A purple egg is about to hatch. “Whatever you do, don’t turn the page…,” you’re warned. But of course you do, and a baby dragon hatches. She’s quite cute, but when you tickle her nose she sneezes, lighting a tiny fire that you’re exhorted to put out. The tiny fire leads to more, and the narrator tells you to “use your imagination to put out the fire,” leading to a water balloon, a flood, a treat for the hungry baby dragon, and a book-flapping goodbye—before the book ends with a gently ominous clutch of more purple eggs. While clearly similar to the earlier title, this storyline is a bit more contrived and less emotional than the original—telling readers to imagine a specific solution seems forced, and the “yummy” ice cream interlude feels like an unnecessary departure from the plot, pandering to children’s appetites. Still, the cute dragon is sure to appeal, and the various points of fourth-wall breakage (blowing on fires, flapping the pages like wings) will make for an energetic and laugh-filled read-aloud, either with a group or one-on-one.
A fun story with plenty of little-kid appeal. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Sept. 4, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5247-6638-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: June 10, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
A soothing, bright-as-noon introduction to school that ought to help chase away any shim-shams that first-timers might be experiencing. From the start, Sturges delivers an upbeat note: “School, school, school, / I love school!” and keeps it going strong throughout the simple, rhymed text: “With all my friends I laugh and sing. / I talk about most everything.” Halpern’s artwork is as simple and primary as the verse, with kids going through their day of drawing and the alphabet, lunch, and recess. They celebrate their teacher and their good fortune at having such a neat place to go each day. Some readers will complain that this is a classic piece of avoidance, but its sunny disposition can’t help making school look fun. (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: July 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-06-009284-X
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2004
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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