An inspired bedtime tale laced with a wise lesson about listening to advice from friends.
How do you feel about bedtime?
A Black child breaks the fourth wall to list six reasons why going to sleep is no fun; meanwhile, a group of monster friends interrupt to explain why sleeping is beneficial for our bodies and health. “First: Bedtime is too early!” Second, bedtime routines are dull. Third, nighttime is frightening. Fourth, there is too much to do! Fifth, lying very still is a very difficult task, and sixth, fun cannot happen while you’re sleeping. However, as the monsters note, sleep gives us the energy we need to climb trees, bedtime routines include stories and hugs, monsters can be found under the bed at night (and some of them are downright adorable), bodies and brains need rest to perform well, and sleeping is when we get to dream. Finally, the child concedes that nobody likes bedtime—because everyone loves bedtime. Kilpatrick’s text is funny, like when the child acknowledges that one of their monster pals may have a point yet is quick to add, “Let’s not get distracted. Moving on!” Blanco’s cartoon illustrations are rich and colorful; the artist smartly devotes several pages to a dream sequence. In addition to curbing fears of the dark, this creative entry in the field of bedtime books also encourages kids to let others share their opinions. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An inspired bedtime tale laced with a wise lesson about listening to advice from friends. (sleep facts) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-938447-45-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Genius Cat Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Appealing and interactive, kid-friendly spooky fun.
Readers are invited to help the Boo Crew save the Monster Ball on Halloween.
Luna, Bones, and Fang—respectively, a wispy, gray-tinged ghost; a skeleton in a top hat and scarf; and a brown-skinned vampire—are the Boo Crew, working to fix disasters, from a witch’s malfunctioning broom to some smashed pumpkins, in time for the Monster Ball. Each page asks readers to assist: There are switches to push, candles to blow out, and claps of encouragement to give. After readers lend a hand, helping all the spooky creatures and getting materials fixed and ready, the Monster Ball goes on as planned. The rhyming text and interactive requests make this a worthy lapsit read-aloud. The Boo Crew are darling and kid-friendly, as are all of the illustrations. There are lots of charming details—the witch’s ride is a high-tech gadget labeled the Vroom Broom 5000; Frankenstein's monster is the proprietor of a boutique called Frank’s Frocks. The big-eyed, sweet-faced creatures are adorable, not scary; a teeny-tiny frog tucked into an eye socket makes even a skull look cute. Like Hervé Tullet’s Press Here (2010), this one encourages readers to turn the book, press buttons, and applaud. These inclusions are popular for a reason: Kids love them. This title will be no exception. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Appealing and interactive, kid-friendly spooky fun. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2023
ISBN: 9781728264561
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The message is wholehearted and positive, but the cloying execution doesn’t stand out.
A parent koala encourages its child to engage in every pursuit, and so do several other animals.
The British celebrity author, host of both children’s and adult TV programs, has a very positive message to spread, but there is nothing original in the lightweight text. The many animal characters pictured in diverting, fuzzy-edged illustrations engage in various activities as the text encourages them. “You can sing! If you love to sing, sing. / Shout at the top of your lungs, or whisper soft and sweet.” On verso, a frog quartet harmonizes, while across the gutter, a lion is shown with open mouth roaring as a small bird presumably whispers. Using rhyme and alliteration but without real poetic consistency, lines such as these appear: “You can share. You can care. You can create. You can learn. / You can wonder. You can wander.” The pink flamingo creating a fantastic dessert with pineapple rings is an appealing image, and children will enjoy seeing the cuddly baby koala throughout the book as other animals step up for their showcase. The fantasy-forest setting and its animals will keep small children engaged, but the sweetness comes with a significant aftertaste of treacle. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.5-by-19-inch double-page spreads viewed at 34.5% of actual size.)
The message is wholehearted and positive, but the cloying execution doesn’t stand out. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-18141-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
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