A charming addition to the charismatic pup’s ranch adventures.
A young dog discovers the impact of deforestation on the local wildlife in this second installment of a series.
One morning, when Sagebrush wakes to do her chores, she becomes enchanted by the spring air and wanders into the woods, past the white ranch owner who cares for her. The corgi treks farther than she should and encounters the Shuns, tiny woodland folks who look after the forest. The Shuns don’t trust humans, who cut down their trees. Sagebrush can’t understand how her mistress could be so good and other people so bad. But soon she sees the damage the loggers have done to the forest. The next day, when they return, Sagebrush dashes up the mountain to rescue the Shuns. In this text-heavy picture book, Franks (Corky Tails: Tales of a Tailless Dog Named Sagebrush, 2016) presents the environmental angle fairly, mentioning that humans use wood for things they need—paper, homes, furniture. But she also shows characters feeling helpless at the thought of stopping industry. Budding ecologists are likely to press this issue in conversations with parents or teachers: why can’t something be done to save the forest? Why wouldn’t humans want to replant the trees? Rodriguez (A Kingdom’s Story, 2017, etc.) creates superb facial expressions for Sagebrush in the delightful cartoon illustrations; the work could use even more images. Her depiction of the two Shuns reveals just the type of heroes any kid would like to find in the backyard.
A charming addition to the charismatic pup’s ranch adventures.Pub Date: June 6, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5434-2799-8
Page Count: 34
Publisher: Xlibris
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Uncomplicated fun that sets readers up for the earlier, more-complicated books to come.
Little Blue Truck and his pal Toad meet friends old and new on a springtime drive through the country.
This lift-the-flap, interactive entry in the popular Little Blue Truck series lacks the narrative strength and valuable life lessons of the original Little Blue Truck (2008) and its sequel, Little Blue Truck Leads the Way (2009). Both of those books, published for preschoolers rather than toddlers, featured rich storylines, dramatic, kinetic illustrations, and simple but valuable life lessons—the folly of taking oneself too seriously, the importance of friends, and the virtue of taking turns, for example. At about half the length and with half as much text as the aforementioned titles, this volume is a much quicker read. Less a story than a vernal celebration, the book depicts a bucolic drive through farmland and encounters with various animals and their young along the way. Beautifully rendered two-page tableaux teem with butterflies, blossoms, and vibrant pastel, springtime colors. Little Blue greets a sheep standing in the door of a barn: “Yoo-hoo, Sheep! / Beep-beep! / What’s new?” Folding back the durable, card-stock flap reveals the barn’s interior and an adorable set of twin lambs. Encounters with a duck and nine ducklings, a cow with a calf, a pig with 10 (!) piglets, a family of bunnies, and a chicken with a freshly hatched chick provide ample opportunity for counting and vocabulary work.
Uncomplicated fun that sets readers up for the earlier, more-complicated books to come. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-544-93809-0
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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