Young readers will awaken to the idea that sleepovers aren’t for everyone.
Ducks, penguins, and overnights don’t mix.
Duck and Penguin don’t want to sleep in a “teeny-weeny tiny tent” outdoors. The stuffed animals are the companions of Betty and Maud, respectively. The girls love doing things together; their toys—no. Duck and Penguin dislike what their guardians get up to and dislike each other. As introduced in Duck & Penguin Are Not Friends (2019), the girls believe the toys enjoy their activities. While Betty and Maud excitedly don jammies, snuggle in sleeping bags, and luxuriate on supersoft pillows, Duck and Penguin scowl in tight onesies (Penguin wears duck PJ’s) and “drink” soda pop. The girls’ own liquid overindulgence forces a rushed bathroom trip. Duck and Penguin, alone, also dash houseward, surrounded by nighttime noises. Scared they’re being watched, they head back to the tent, the cramped space suddenly comforting. Next morning, the girls (who slept indoors) peek inside, observe the toys ensconced with the cat, and conclude they love sleepovers. The humor in this British import arises from the girls’ smiley cluelessness and the toys’ impressively effective glowers. The appealing illustrations are lively and expressive; the cat plays a pivotal role in some scenes. Betty is white and wears blue glasses. Maud is black with her hair styled in two Afro puffs. Duck and Penguin frolic on endpapers.
Young readers will awaken to the idea that sleepovers aren’t for everyone. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68263-201-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: May 2, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2020
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...
Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.
The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 21, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...
Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.
First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.
Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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