Solid pandemic advice hampered by sometimes-confusing narration.
A young rabbit learns about how to stay safe in this pandemic-inspired picture book.
A humanlike bunny named Alez, who wears clothes, lives in a house, and appears to be a preschooler, explains to readers that germs “are making the whole world sick,” so she has to stay home. However, she doesn’t understand why the mail carrier is wearing a mask or why she can’t give him a hug. Her parents patiently explain new rules to her, which involve such things as social distancing, wearing a mask to go to the store, and thoroughly washing one’s hands. Alez’s dad, who’s 6 feet tall, allows Alez to measure him to show how far 6 feet is. Debut author Howard’s recommendations reflect the most recent advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and are explained in simple terms that even very young readers will grasp. However, the narration awkwardly moves back and forth between first- and third-person perspectives, which may be difficult for newly independent readers to follow. Hefke’s cartoonlike images depict a cat mail carrier and a pig grocery clerk as well as the three main rabbits, who are different shades of brown. When characters wear masks, they do so correctly, covering both the nose and mouth. Overall, the brightly colored illustrations pleasantly and effectively normalize safety practices.
Solid pandemic advice hampered by sometimes-confusing narration.Pub Date: July 27, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-73339-699-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Empire Publishing
Review Posted Online: Nov. 30, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
A delightfully silly celebration of familial love.
A child in search of the best hugger takes a bedtime tour of the world’s most unusual embraces.
In the opening pages of this rhyming picture book, an unnamed narrator asks a curly-haired, tan-skinned child who they think gives the best hugs. At the narrator’s behest, the protagonist spends their bedtime routine receiving affection from a wacky cast of creatures, ranging from meerkats to porcupines to narwhals. These animals have a variety of body types, but even those with a lack of limbs still express their love; the seahorse, for example, gives the child a “smooch” right before bathtime, and a grinning cobra offers the child a “clinch,” wrapping itself around their leg. Although many of the animals prove to be more prickly than cozy—the narrator points out, for example, the sharpness of bird beaks and porcupine quills—even the snuggliest koalas and bears cannot compare to the best hug of all: a parent’s embrace right before bedtime. The use of second-person address combined with the protagonist’s beautifully illustrated facial expressions and the buoyant, clever lines of verse render this book a hilarious and whimsical ride sure to delight both children and the adults who read to them. The pictures and text work together to create a clear narrative arc for the protagonist, and though the ending is a bit predictable, it’s nevertheless a wonderful payoff. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A delightfully silly celebration of familial love. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 24, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-5476-1236-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
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