Pearl the rabbit and Wagner the mouse continue to develop the friendship introduced in the first volume in this easy-reader series, Pearl and Wagner: Two Good Friends (2003). In this funny entry, three short chapters highlight the sort of secrets important to first graders, focusing on the fear of riding on a roller coaster. Pearl skillfully helps Wagner prepare for their roller coaster ride, conquering his fear of the unknown, but the reality of the enormous roller coaster gives Pearl her own set of worries. Her fears are counteracted by Wagner’s comforting presence as they ride the huge “Zoomer” side-by-side, along with their class of assorted animal friends. McMullan’s subtle humor infuses the clever plot, which includes a field trip to an ice-cream factory as well as a birthday party at the amusement park. Alley’s delightful watercolor-and-ink illustrations show a wide range of emotions, including the animals all screaming their heads off as the roller coaster cars careen downhill. Pearl and Wagner are a winsome pair of pals who will surely share more easy-reader adventures, perhaps next time over four seasons like another famous animal duo. (Easy reader. 5-7)
Pub Date: May 1, 2004
ISBN: 0-8037-2574-4
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2004
The first day of first grade looms, and Little Cliff has sadly lined up his toys to bid goodbye: “ ‘I can’t play with y’all no more. I gotta go to Miss Maxey’s school way down the road, a million miles from here. I know you gonna miss me, ’cause I miss y’all already.’ ” Next morning, great-grandmother Mama Pearl accompanies him to the playground—where he delightedly discovers that, contrary to what the grown-ups around him have been implying, there’s going to be more to school than “work, work, work,” and “quiet, quiet, quiet.” With expert, warmly sympathetic realism, Lewis captures Little Cliff’s hangdog face and body language to perfection; young children having their own qualms about school will readily identify with this reluctant scholar, and so may share his relief at the end as well. It won’t matter that this is set in the rural 50s, a time of lunch buckets and suspenders and brown oxfords. This is some of Lewis’s best work, emotion-laden watercolors capturing an important time and place. There’s something here for older readers to ponder too, in Mama Pearl’s unexplained tears and pride as Little Cliff races off to join his friends in the schoolyard. An affecting sequel to Little Cliff and the Porch People (1999) that was the first to offer some of Taulbert’s characters from his adult memoirs to young readers. (Picture book. 5-7)
Pub Date: June 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-8037-2557-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2001
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A small pick-up truck suffers separation anxiety in this tale for fans of Little Toot, Katy, and other animated work machines. Little Truck happily tags along behind Big Truck, helping to haul farm produce to market over a busy highway and doing other tasks. Then Big Truck overstrains himself while moving a fallen tree and has to be towed to the shop, leaving Little Truck to shoulder the work. Both rumpled-looking trucks sport expressive headlight eyes and radiator mouths—and opaque windshields, so though they have human helpers to load and unload them, they seem to drive themselves. Gradually, remembering Big Truck’s instructions about highway driving and getting out of muddy patches, Little Truck begins to lose his apprehension and by the end is ready to welcome Big Truck back with pride and joy. The characters, situations, and art hark back to an antique picture-book tradition, but children of any generation will understand Little Truck’s feelings. (Picture book. 5-7)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-439-07177-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2000
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