This funny, fuzzy fracas will easily entertain the storytime set.
How much of a mess can a lazy cat and a small pooch make? Quite a bit, it turns out.
“A teeny tiny dog and a grumpy old kitty / were left home alone in a house near the city.” Little, brown Dog (a Chihuahua with a topknot) has energy to spare, and she bounces on the couch, imploring fluffy, old orange Cat (an enormous feline) to escape with her to the park for a day of fun. Cat thinks he’s far too recognizable to play around outside. Dog has the bright idea to go out in disguise; Cat acquiesces, thinking he can show off his superior style. The duo dives into their humans’ belongings (clothes, housewares, and food) to create their outfits. They make a big mess…but they’re so intent that they don’t notice. Cat reappears with a watermelon-rind helmet and a bright blue cape, and Dog sports goggles and a red cape. On their way to the door, a cape mishap turns on the fan, which blows everything about—and the house is a mega-mess when their owners unlatch the door. Some speedy cleaning saves the day, but their excursion will have to wait for another day. This Australian import (which already has a sequel Down Under) will bring to mind the furry, frenetic adventures of their countrymate Pig the Pug. The rhyming text of the simple story takes a back seat to the colorful mess of the illustrations. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9.3-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 42.1% of actual size.)
This funny, fuzzy fracas will easily entertain the storytime set. (Picture book. 2-7)Pub Date: March 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-338-68470-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Dec. 14, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2021
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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