When Ruthie's cousin bestows upon her an old red coat she is dismayed to find that, in addition to being old, it is way too big! Off she goes to commiserate with her neighbor and friend, Fiona. Lacome's (The Shape of Things, not reviewed) little rabbits are swept up by their imagination as they zip themselves together in the capacious red coat. They have a ball pretending to be a big red air balloon and thoroughly enjoy tottering through the four-legged turkey trot. They laugh and play with abandon until Ruthie quite suddenly finds she has to go to the bathroom. The zipper (Uh oh!) is jammed! So the two girls must hobble to the bathroom together. Some readers may be somewhat surprised when Ruthie and Fiona remain joined in the coat while Ruthie remedies her problem by sitting on the toilet while Fiona looks away giggling, but they’ll find themselves chuckling along with them. The author illustrates that, with just a little originality and fancy, one can turn something shunned into a treasure and have a good time doing it. Her artwork, buoyant with spring color, is a nice compliment to the text and captures the closeness of childhood best friends. (Picture book. 5-7)
Pub Date: April 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-7636-0969-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2000
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Give this child’s-eye view of a day at the beach with an attentive father high marks for coziness: “When your ball blows across the sand and into the ocean and starts to drift away, your daddy could say, Didn’t I tell you not to play too close to the waves? But he doesn’t. He wades out into the cold water. And he brings your ball back to the beach and plays roll and catch with you.” Alley depicts a moppet and her relaxed-looking dad (to all appearances a single parent) in informally drawn beach and domestic settings: playing together, snuggling up on the sofa and finally hugging each other goodnight. The third-person voice is a bit distancing, but it makes the togetherness less treacly, and Dad’s mix of love and competence is less insulting, to parents and children both, than Douglas Wood’s What Dads Can’t Do (2000), illus by Doug Cushman. (Picture book. 5-7)
Pub Date: May 23, 2005
ISBN: 0-618-00361-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2005
The lifecycle of the frog is succinctly summarized in this easy reader for children reading at the late first-grade level. In just one or two sentences per page, Vern details the amazing metamorphosis of the frog from egg to tadpole to adult, even injecting a little humor despite the tight word count. (“Watch out fly! Mmmm!) Large, full-color photographs on white backgrounds clearly illustrate each phase of development. Without any mention of laying eggs or fertilization, the title might be a bit misleading, but the development from black dot egg to full-grown frog is fascinating. A simple chart of the three main lifecycle steps is also included. Lifecycles are part of the standard curriculum in the early elementary grades, and this will be a welcome addition to school and public libraries, both for its informational value and as an easy reader. (Nonfiction/easy reader. 5-7)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-15-216304-2
Page Count: 20
Publisher: Green Light/Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2001
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