Will resonate with finicky kids and their very particular taste buds.
Bean’s beloved double scoop of vanilla ice cream is accidentally splattered with rainbow sprinkles, accentuating the dilemma of his picky-eater attitude.
This blue dog is a very persnickety pup, averse to even the most kid-friendly choices like grilled cheese, spaghetti, and strawberries. The only food he likes and will eat is vanilla ice cream in either a cone or cup, plain, with nothing on it, ever. No other flavors will do, not even with the enticement of some of the original flavors at Miss Sundae’s shop, like birthday cake or dark chocolate sea salt. One day, as usual, Bean gets his two scoops of vanilla, but when Miss Sundae (a polar bear) begins to clean up, she slips and spills a tub of sprinkles, which go flying everywhere. At first upset, Bean lets hunger win out as his two scoops are the last of the vanilla. He hesitates, takes a lick, then finds out to his surprise: “I like it” with sprinkles. Seeing her advantage, Miss Sundae cajoles him into being more amenable to next time trying a strawberry on top. “Maaaaayyyybeeee.” Cartoon art against a kaleidoscopic backdrop of cool pastels in pink, lavender, blue, and yellow enhances the simplicity of the story’s theme of sensitive palates and trying new tastes in small, incremental steps. With Bean’s exaggerated restriction, Turner adds a note of humor that should give kids like Bean needed perspective. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8-by-14-inch double-page spreads viewed at 89.2% of actual size.)
Will resonate with finicky kids and their very particular taste buds. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: March 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-64638-112-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Cottage Door Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say.
A dog-loving child encourages a less-than-enthusiastic younger one to imagine they’re both canines.
From the first declaration—“I’d be a big dog! And you’d be a little one!”—readers know who’s calling the shots. Initially, the protagonists cavort off the page and through the neighborhood together, performing doggy capers such as tail wagging, stick carrying, and dirt digging. But by the time they encounter a multitude of like-minded creatures at the dog park, the disgruntled small pup is exhibiting out-and-out rebellion: “Being a dog is YOUR idea! Sometimes I HAVE IDEAS TOO!” The narrative wraps up with the younger child pretending to be a different animal entirely—cleverly foreshadowed through subtle details in the illustrations. Even the endpapers—lively silhouettes of dogs in the beginning and many different animals in closing—extend the theme to suggest the imaginative possibilities of pretend play. Cheerful, lightly hued colors fit the whimsical mood, while expressive body language allows the art to tell the story with a minimum of words. Ending on a surprising note, with a sweet compromise between the two main characters, the tale gives both kids the freedom to embrace their own preferences and styles—while still enjoying their game.
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9780316581721
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
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