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
Serve this superbly designed title to all who relish slightly scary stories.
Kids know vegetables can be scary, but rarely are edible roots out to get someone. In this whimsical mock-horror tale, carrots nearly frighten the whiskers off Jasper Rabbit, an interloper at Crackenhopper Field.
Jasper loves carrots, especially those “free for the taking.” He pulls some in the morning, yanks out a few in the afternoon, and comes again at night to rip out more. Reynolds builds delicious suspense with succinct language that allows understatements to be fully exploited in Brown’s hilarious illustrations. The cartoon pictures, executed in pencil and then digitally colored, are in various shades of gray and serve as a perfectly gloomy backdrop for the vegetables’ eerie orange on each page. “Jasper couldn’t get enough carrots … / … until they started following him.” The plot intensifies as Jasper not only begins to hear the veggies nearby, but also begins to see them everywhere. Initially, young readers will wonder if this is all a product of Jasper’s imagination. Was it a few snarling carrots or just some bathing items peeking out from behind the shower curtain? The ending truly satisfies both readers and the book’s characters alike. And a lesson on greed goes down like honey instead of a forkful of spinach.
Serve this superbly designed title to all who relish slightly scary stories. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 21, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0297-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 1, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2012
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