Suddenly seeing the shark’s “big grin” may prompt easily startled children to join the final scene’s diverse array of marine...
Smiling sea creatures hiding behind big flaps pop up to play in this gallery for “Little Snappers.”
Intentionally or not, there’s a disparity between the overall tone and the likely audience reaction. Each of the five double-page spreads features a vague clue/question on one side and an almost full-page–sized flap on the opposite that, when lifted, elevates a very simple cartoon rendering of an animal: “Which snippy-snappy animal has seen a shell to grab?” / “Scuttling sideways on the sand, it’s smiley, happy Crab!” (Said crab is in the process of gaily snipping a seashell, and perhaps its unseen resident, in half.) Similarly, a creature opaquely endowed with a “patterned shell” turns out to be a turtle. For a rather disingenuous finale, raising the flap to discover the identity of a “splashy friend with pointy fins” who “wants everyone to play” shoots a toothy shark up toward viewers. Shades of Lewis Carroll’s “How Doth the Little Crocodile.”
Suddenly seeing the shark’s “big grin” may prompt easily startled children to join the final scene’s diverse array of marine life in beating a hasty retreat. The first time through, at least. (Pop-up picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: March 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-58925-259-2
Page Count: 10
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: March 15, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2016
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say.
A dog-loving child encourages a less-than-enthusiastic younger one to imagine they’re both canines.
From the first declaration—“I’d be a big dog! And you’d be a little one!”—readers know who’s calling the shots. Initially, the protagonists cavort off the page and through the neighborhood together, performing doggy capers such as tail wagging, stick carrying, and dirt digging. But by the time they encounter a multitude of like-minded creatures at the dog park, the disgruntled small pup is exhibiting out-and-out rebellion: “Being a dog is YOUR idea! Sometimes I HAVE IDEAS TOO!” The narrative wraps up with the younger child pretending to be a different animal entirely—cleverly foreshadowed through subtle details in the illustrations. Even the endpapers—lively silhouettes of dogs in the beginning and many different animals in closing—extend the theme to suggest the imaginative possibilities of pretend play. Cheerful, lightly hued colors fit the whimsical mood, while expressive body language allows the art to tell the story with a minimum of words. Ending on a surprising note, with a sweet compromise between the two main characters, the tale gives both kids the freedom to embrace their own preferences and styles—while still enjoying their game.
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9780316581721
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
A funny tale about stress and an ever upping ante, with a comforting end.
Something is preventing Owl from falling asleep.
Owl leans back against his white pillow and headboard. “Squeek!” says something underneath the bed. Owl’s never heard that sound before, so he fastens his pink bathrobe and answers the front door. Nobody. It must be the wind; back to bed. Bidding himself goodnight, he climbs into bed—and hears the noise again. Time after time, he pops out of bed seeking the squeaker. Is it in the cupboard? He empties the shelves. Under the floor? He pulls up his floorboards. As Owl’s actions ratchet up—he destroys the roof and smashes the walls, all in search of the squeak—so does his anxiety. Not until he hunkers down in bed under the night sky (his bed is now outdoors, because the house’s roof and walls are gone), frantically clutching his pillow, does he see what readers have seen all along: a small, gray mouse. In simple illustrations with black outlines, textured coloring, and foreshortened perspective, Pizzoli plays mischievously with mouse placement. Sometimes the mouse is behind Owl or just out of his sightline; other times, the mouse is on a solid, orange-colored page across the spread from Owl, which removes him from Owl’s scene in a rather postmodern manner. Is the mouse toying with Owl? Who knows?
A funny tale about stress and an ever upping ante, with a comforting end. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: April 19, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4847-1275-7
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2016
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
