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
The dynamic interaction between the characters invites readers to take risks, push boundaries, and have a little unscripted...
Reinvention is the name of the game for two blobs of clay.
A blue-eyed gray blob and a brown-eyed brown blob sit side by side, unsure as to what’s going to happen next. The gray anticipates an adventure, while the brown appears apprehensive. A pair of hands descends, and soon, amid a flurry of squishing and prodding and poking and sculpting, a handsome gray wolf and a stately brown owl emerge. The hands disappear, leaving the friends to their own devices. The owl is pleased, but the wolf convinces it that the best is yet to come. An ear pulled here and an extra eye placed there, and before you can shake a carving stick, a spurt of frenetic self-exploration—expressed as a tangled black scribble—reveals a succession of smug hybrid beasts. After all, the opportunity to become a “pig-e-phant” doesn’t come around every day. But the sound of approaching footsteps panics the pair of Picassos. How are they going to “fix [them]selves” on time? Soon a hippopotamus and peacock are staring bug-eyed at a returning pair of astonished hands. The creative naiveté of the “clay mates” is perfectly captured by Petty’s feisty, spot-on dialogue: “This was your idea…and it was a BAD one.” Eldridge’s endearing sculpted images are photographed against the stark white background of an artist’s work table to great effect.
The dynamic interaction between the characters invites readers to take risks, push boundaries, and have a little unscripted fun of their own . (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: June 20, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-316-30311-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Say hello to a relatable and rewarding early reader!
Fun with friends makes for a great day.
Norbit, a salmon-colored worm with a pink kerchief, joyfully greets the day and everyone he encounters. “Hello, friends! It’s time for fun with the sun! Let’s play!” He and his menagerie of forest pals—including the sun, who grows limbs and descends from the sky—exuberantly engage in various forms of physical activity such as jumping, going down a slide, spinning around, and watching the clouds go by. Young readers will readily relate, as these are games that most children are familiar with. As day turns to night, Norbit says farewell to Sun and welcomes Moon with an invitation to continue the fun. Watkins has created a vivid world of movement and merriment. Her illustrations feature bright bursts of color that match the energy of the text, with most sentences ending in an exclamation point. The author/illustrator incorporates many elements that make for an ideal early-reading experience (despite the use of a contraction or two): art free from clutter, text consisting of words with only one or two syllables, and repetition and recurring bits, such as a continued game of hide-and-seek with Sun. Inspired by never-before-seen sketches from the Dr. Seuss Collection archives at the University of California San Diego, this is the first title for Seuss Studios, a new imprint for original stories from “emerging authors and illustrators” who “honor Seuss’s hallmark spirit of creativity and imagination.”
Say hello to a relatable and rewarding early reader! (author's note) (Early reader. 5-8)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9780593646212
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Seuss Studios
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
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