As silly (and sweet) as a basement full of cake, with a hint more substance.
Llama’s single-minded pursuit of delicious desserts reaches new frontiers.
This third installment in the series finds Llama obsessing over the “spectacular” doughnut with extra sprinkles he ate at his birthday party yesterday. If only he could eat it again! The “rational llama of science” sets out to do exactly that. But when his new time-travel pants take him further back in time than expected, Llama finds (and eats) a different birthday doughnut, unknowingly altering the space-time continuum for his younger self. Baby Llama’s sad, lonely birthday “Long, Long Ago” without sweets—or friends to share them with—offers sympathetic context for Llama’s present-day hoarding tendencies and distrust of strangers. Both are on full display after Baby Llama and a host of other creatures from the past and present follow Llama back to his “Today” and start to destroy his home—what if his secret cake cellar is next? But when he and Baby Llama rush to protect the desserts, Llama realizes what his younger self wants even more than sweets. Tight narrative pacing, well-timed instances of onomatopoeia, and expressive, cartoonish illustrations make this an engaging read-aloud. While the narrator seems to take a dark pleasure in describing the consequences of Llama’s inability to read instructions, follow rules, or predict the consequences of his own actions (“he would pay dearly for it”), the cautionary tale elements are tempered by a reassuringly positive outcome for all llamas involved. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
As silly (and sweet) as a basement full of cake, with a hint more substance. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: July 12, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-250-77676-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Young readers will be “antsy” to join the hero on her satisfying escapade.
An ant explores her world.
Addie Ant’s ready for adventure. Despite some trepidation about leaving the Tomato Bed, where she lives with her aunt, she plucks up her courage and ventures forth across the garden to the far side of the shed. On her journey, she meets her pal Lewis Ladybug, who greets her warmly, points the way, and offers sage advice. When Addie arrives at her destination, she’s welcomed by lovely Beatrix Butterfly and enjoys an “ant-tastic” helping of watermelon. Beatrix also provides Addie with take-home treats and a map for the “Cricket Express,” which will take her straight home. Arriving at the terminal, Addie’s delighted to meet another friend, Cleo Cricket, whose carriage service returns Addie home in “two hops.” After eating a warm tomato soup dinner, Addie falls asleep and dreams of future exploits. Adorable though not terribly original, this story brims with sensuous pleasures, both textual and visual. Kids who declare that they dislike fruits or veggies may find their mouths watering at the mentions and sights of luscious tomatoes, peas, beans, watermelons, berries, and other foodstuffs; insect-averse readers may likewise think differently after encountering these convivial, wide-eyed characters. And those flowers and herbs everywhere! The highlights are the colors that burst from the pages. Addie’s an endearing, empowering character who reassures children they’ll be able to take those first independent steps successfully.
Young readers will be “antsy” to join the hero on her satisfying escapade. (author’s note about ants) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 9, 2024
ISBN: 9781797228914
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2024
A jam-packed opener sure to satisfy lovers of the princess genre.
Ice princess Lina must navigate family and school in this early chapter read.
The family picnic is today. This is not a typical gathering, since Lina’s maternal relatives are a royal family of Windtamers who have power over the weather and live in castles floating on clouds. Lina herself is mixed race, with black hair and a tan complexion like her Asian-presenting mother’s; her Groundling father appears to be a white human. While making a grand entrance at the castle of her grandfather, the North Wind, she fails to successfully ride a gust of wind and crashes in front of her entire family. This prompts her stern grandfather to ask that Lina move in with him so he can teach her to control her powers. Desperate to avoid this, Lina and her friend Claudia, who is black, get Lina accepted at the Hilltop Science and Arts Academy. Lina’s parents allow her to go as long as she does lessons with grandpa on Saturdays. However, fitting in at a Groundling school is rough, especially when your powers start freak winter storms! With the story unfurling in diary format, bright-pink–highlighted grayscale illustrations help move the plot along. There are slight gaps in the storytelling and the pacing is occasionally uneven, but Lina is full of spunk and promotes self-acceptance.
A jam-packed opener sure to satisfy lovers of the princess genre. (Fantasy. 5-8)Pub Date: June 25, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-35393-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
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