by Karen L. Belciglio Tracey Tolbert illustrated by Kyle F. Anderson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 24, 2012
A clever, engaging book that will likely leave readers wanting more tales of Toos.
In Belciglio and Tolbert’s debut children’s book, a cool calico cat explores the city of Charlotte, N.C.
Toos (rhymes with “moose”) is a male calico cat, a genetic rarity. He lives in Charlotte with his owner, John. The cat lives an easy life consisting of eating food, taking naps, playing with catnip toys and glaring at birds. His rarity makes him special, in that he possesses a knack for turning bad situations into good ones. When John inadvertently leaves the door open one day, Toos decides it’s time to hit the road, and he goes in search of adventure and fellow felines. The resulting tale, written from the Toos’ perspective, follows the lucky cat on his adventures throughout the city. In search of a feline friend, he finds himself at a Charlotte Bobcats basketball game, viewing a local landmark at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, and in front of a giant panther statue. The authors and illustrator show readers some of Charlotte’s most famous sights. However, readers unfamiliar with the city may have a hard time identifying the sites for what they are, such as an NBA arena; although from a cat’s perspective, such details perhaps don’t matter. Children will likely enjoy Toos’ cool-as-a-cucumber attitude and his penchant for using words such as “dude” and “awesome.” The painted illustrations are colorful and engaging and Anderson does a great job capturing Toos’ expressions and body language. Although youngsters may have difficulty with some of the more advanced vocabulary, the story is engaging enough for adults to enjoy reading it with their kids. A slightly awkward moment occurs in the beginning of the book, when Toos relates a story of when he tore up some of John's important papers; the moment doesn’t fit with the easy flow of the rest of the tale. However, this hiccup doesn’t diminish the overall appeal and humor of Toos’ journey through Charlotte.
A clever, engaging book that will likely leave readers wanting more tales of Toos.Pub Date: Nov. 24, 2012
ISBN: 978-1479120376
Page Count: 26
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Feb. 5, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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by Chloe Perkins ; illustrated by Sandra Equihua ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 13, 2016
A nice but not requisite purchase.
A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.
Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.
A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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adapted by Hannah Eliot ; illustrated by Nivea Ortiz
by Chloe Perkins ; illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova
by Chloe Perkins ; illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan
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by Chloe Perkins ; illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova
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by Chloe Perkins ; illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan
by Tom Fletcher ; illustrated by Greg Abbott ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 5, 2017
Playful, engaging, and full of opportunities for empathy—a raucous storytime hit.
Readers try to dislodge a monster from the pages of this emotive and interactive read-aloud.
“OH NO!” the story starts. “There’s a monster in your book!” The blue, round-headed monster with pink horns and a pink-tipped tail can be seen cheerfully munching on the opening page. “Let’s try to get him out,” declares the narrator. Readers are encouraged to shake, tilt, and spin the book around, while the monster careens around an empty background looking scared and lost. Viewers are exhorted to tickle the monster’s feet, blow on the page, and make a really loud noise. Finally, shockingly, it works: “Now he’s in your room!” But clearly a monster in your book is safer than a monster in your room, so he’s coaxed back into the illustrations and lulled to sleep, curled up under one page and cuddling a bit of another like a child with their blankie. The monster’s entirely cute appearance and clear emotional reactions to his treatment add to the interactive aspect, and some young readers might even resist the instructions to avoid hurting their new pal. Children will be brought along on the monster’s journey, going from excited, noisy, and wiggly to calm and steady (one can hope).
Playful, engaging, and full of opportunities for empathy—a raucous storytime hit. (Picture book. 2-7)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5247-6456-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: June 4, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017
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by Tom Fletcher ; illustrated by Tom Fletcher
by Tom Fletcher ; illustrated by Greg Abbott
by Tom Fletcher ; illustrated by Greg Abbott
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by Tom Fletcher ; illustrated by Tom Fletcher
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by Tom Fletcher ; illustrated by Greg Abbott
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