by Judy Ann Sadler ; illustrated by Vigg ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2018
A lively tale in which observant readers will discover—long before the narrator does—that in fact much more than nothing...
This book’s appeal lies in the fact that the title tells a lie.
A little sharp-nosed man with small, protruding ears, who wears a bow tie and carries a lantern, gives readers warnings against reading this book; it’s “boring,” he says. Accordingly, the story opens with only a white speech bubble on a black page with red undertones. However, once the narrator realizes readers will stick around, both the illustrations and the story get more interesting. As a teddy bear sneaks up behind, the narrator begins to find circus- and band-related objects strewn all over the place (a clown’s shoe, a trumpet, a baton…). At the story’s climax, a fold-out page shows exactly to whom the objects belong, celebrates the zany expansiveness of the entertainment, and gives young readers plenty of details to enjoy. The book’s retro look, matte finish, elongated format, and delightful speech bubbles make it a somewhat unusual find. And now that Ringling Brothers will no longer be visiting a town near you, this may be one of the few ways kids will get to experience circus fun.
A lively tale in which observant readers will discover—long before the narrator does—that in fact much more than nothing happens in this book. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-77138-737-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: Feb. 18, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2018
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by Kobi Yamada ; illustrated by Natalie Russell ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2017
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
Awards & Accolades
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Google Rating
New York Times Bestseller
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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by Carson Ellis ; illustrated by Carson Ellis ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 24, 2015
Visually accomplished but marred by stereotypical cultural depictions.
Ellis, known for her illustrations for Colin Meloy’s Wildwood series, here riffs on the concept of “home.”
Shifting among homes mundane and speculative, contemporary and not, Ellis begins and ends with views of her own home and a peek into her studio. She highlights palaces and mansions, but she also takes readers to animal homes and a certain famously folkloric shoe (whose iconic Old Woman manages a passel of multiethnic kids absorbed in daring games). One spread showcases “some folks” who “live on the road”; a band unloads its tour bus in front of a theater marquee. Ellis’ compelling ink and gouache paintings, in a palette of blue-grays, sepia and brick red, depict scenes ranging from mythical, underwater Atlantis to a distant moonscape. Another spread, depicting a garden and large building under connected, transparent domes, invites readers to wonder: “Who in the world lives here? / And why?” (Earth is seen as a distant blue marble.) Some of Ellis’ chosen depictions, oddly juxtaposed and stripped of any historical or cultural context due to the stylized design and spare text, become stereotypical. “Some homes are boats. / Some homes are wigwams.” A sailing ship’s crew seems poised to land near a trio of men clad in breechcloths—otherwise unidentified and unremarked upon.
Visually accomplished but marred by stereotypical cultural depictions. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6529-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2014
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