Peppy pictures will rock you but cannot save this metal beetle from lackluster writing.
Can a bug with rock in her heart ever find understanding in these intolerant woods?
One’s initial thoughts of ladybugs may conjure up images of sweet, cute, flimsy creatures. Lady B. Marie defies those stereotypes. In spite of the disapproval of her father and the neighbors, she’s into punk rock and loud guitars. And when all the other critters have been driven away by her solos, she refuses to feel down about it, happy to tear it up alone. Happily, a passing band hears her chords and is compelled to play along. Rauers’ artwork adeptly suits the mood of the piece, her Jitterbug a jean jacket–wearing rocker shredding the forest floor with the power of her jam. The visual gag of the bass guitarist stag beetle, horns emanating from his head like a death metal god, is glorious in and of itself. Unfortunately, while the overall story and artwork soar, the text, translated from German, is much weaker. Awkward phrasing, rhymes, and scansion plague this cheery tale. Putting aside the question of why a rocking insect would go by a moniker reminiscent of a 1930s dance craze, the rhyming text is too often repetitive and herky-jerky. “And ever since then no one ever cries foul / Whenever the band starts to rock and howl.” (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Peppy pictures will rock you but cannot save this metal beetle from lackluster writing. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 4, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4499-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: NorthSouth
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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Quirky, familiar fun for series devotees.
After Duncan finds his crayons gone—yet again—letters arrive, detailing their adventures in friendship.
Eleven crayons send missives from their chosen spots throughout Duncan’s home (and one from his classroom). Red enjoys the thrill of extinguishing “pretend fires” with Duncan’s toy firetruck. White, so often dismissed as invisible, finds a new calling subbing in for the missing queen on the black-and-white chessboard. “Now everyone ALWAYS SEES ME!…(Well, half the time!)” Pink’s living the dream as a pastry chef helming the Breezy Bake Oven, “baking everything from little cupcakes…to…OTHER little cupcakes!” Teal, who’s hitched a ride to school in Duncan’s backpack, meets the crayons in the boy’s desk and writes, “Guess what? I HAVE A TWIN! How come you never told me?” Duncan wants to see his crayons and “meet their new friends.” A culminating dinner party assembles the crayons and their many guests: a table tennis ball, dog biscuits, a well-loved teddy bear, and more. The premise—personified crayons, away and back again—is well-trammeled territory by now, after over a dozen books and spinoffs, and Jeffers once more delivers his signature cartooning and hand-lettering. Though the pages lack the laugh-out-loud sight gags and side-splittingly funny asides of previous outings, readers—especially fans of the crayons’ previous outings—will enjoy checking in on their pals.
Quirky, familiar fun for series devotees. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9780593622360
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
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