Tries for clever but doesn’t make it.
Be on the lookout! Wordplay is underway.
A mole named Under and a bird named Over play on a seesaw and swings. Simple declarative sentences explain where the pals are spatially as they use the equipment; their relative locations are depicted. From here, the pair begin to converse, so the prepositions over and under repeatedly appear in speech bubbles, paired with other words and set in boldface type throughout. Thus, dialogue emerges as commands, interjections, or occasional idiomatic expressions and puns—but it’s actually forming compound words. A story (ending with a sweet idiomatic phrase) develops and is expressed textually and visually: “Push, Over!” the mole yells from the swing, and “Under, Stand!” the bird demands when it wants a turn. Punctuation marks are used grammatically correctly, turning common (and not-so-common) compound words into phrases. Other examples of compound-word formation herein: “Over, eat?” “Under, cook,” “Over, done.” Unfortunately, the exercise does not amount to a satisfying story in itself. Adults will get the point; many children won’t, though some will recognize familiar compounds: overeat, understand, under/overcook, and underwear. (Here it’s punned “Under, Where?”) Occasionally, confusion reigns: Some word pairs that are boldfaced and set in speech balloons make no sense for the book’s apparent purposes because they aren’t compounds: “Over, There!”; “Dig, Dog!”; and “Down, Dog!” Colorful illustrations are energetic. An author’s note explains compound words and invites readers to locate those in the book, which are defined in a separate list. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Tries for clever but doesn’t make it. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Oct. 19, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-20355-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Charming and thought-provoking proof that we all contain multitudes.
Oscar winner McConaughey offers intriguing life observations.
The series of pithy, wry comments, each starting with the phrase “Just because,” makes clear that each of us is a mass of contradictions: “Just because we’re friends, / doesn’t mean you can’t burn me. / Just because I’m stubborn, / doesn’t mean that you can’t turn me.” Witty, digitally rendered vignettes portray youngsters diverse in terms of race and ability (occasionally with pets looking on) dealing with everything from friendship drama to a nerve-wracking footrace. “Just because I’m dirty, / doesn’t mean I can’t get clean” is paired with an image of a youngster taking a bath while another character (possibly an older sibling) sits nearby, smiling. “Just because you’re nice, / doesn’t mean you can’t get mean” depicts the older one berating the younger one for tracking mud into the house. The artwork effectively brings to life the succinct, rhyming text and will help readers make sense of it. Perhaps, after studying the illustrations and gaining further insight into the comments, kids will reread and reflect upon them further. The final page unites the characters from earlier pages with a reassuring message for readers: “Just because the sun has set, / doesn’t mean it will not rise. / Because every day is a gift, / each one a new surprise. BELIEVE IT.” As a follow-up, readers should be encouraged to make their own suggestions to complete the titular phrase. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Charming and thought-provoking proof that we all contain multitudes. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2023
ISBN: 9780593622032
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023
Perfect for those looking for a scary Halloween tale that won’t leave them with more fears than they started with. Pair with...
Reynolds and Brown have crafted a Halloween tale that balances a really spooky premise with the hilarity that accompanies any mention of underwear.
Jasper Rabbit needs new underwear. Plain White satisfies him until he spies them: “Creepy underwear! So creepy! So comfy! They were glorious.” The underwear of his dreams is a pair of radioactive-green briefs with a Frankenstein face on the front, the green color standing out all the more due to Brown’s choice to do the entire book in grayscale save for the underwear’s glowing green…and glow they do, as Jasper soon discovers. Despite his “I’m a big rabbit” assertion, that glow creeps him out, so he stuffs them in the hamper and dons Plain White. In the morning, though, he’s wearing green! He goes to increasing lengths to get rid of the glowing menace, but they don’t stay gone. It’s only when Jasper finally admits to himself that maybe he’s not such a big rabbit after all that he thinks of a clever solution to his fear of the dark. Brown’s illustrations keep the backgrounds and details simple so readers focus on Jasper’s every emotion, writ large on his expressive face. And careful observers will note that the underwear’s expression also changes, adding a bit more creep to the tale.
Perfect for those looking for a scary Halloween tale that won’t leave them with more fears than they started with. Pair with Dr. Seuss’ tale of animate, empty pants. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Aug. 22, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0298-0
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
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