Kids will be saying “Mine!” about this delightful story that really rocks.
Two frogs have a big disagreement over the ownership of a small rock in the middle of a pond.
One frog, comfortably ensconced in its own space, hears snores and, parting tall strands of grasses, discovers another frog lazing on the other side. Frog Numero Uno angrily confronts the interloper, announcing, “This rock is mine!” The second frog huffily responds to assert ownership, pointing to its belongings. Each frog refuses to budge, and they almost come to blows. Suddenly, a huge shadow looms overhead—one with a menacing beak and pointy talons. It’s a heron! Terror-stricken, both frogs realize that this isn’t the time to bicker over real estate. They escape their would-be predator by jumping into the water. When the heron overtakes their former rocky domain, the amphibious pair, now safely hidden, decide the home they’d once vigorously argued over really wasn’t that great after all and find a “perfect” new rock to live on—together. This comical U.K. import, told in rollicking rhyme that bounces along as effortlessly as any frog, will engage readers while delivering an excellent message about friendships forged through cooperation. Children will relate to the frogs' “It’s mine!” protestations. Dominated by hues of blue and green, the mixed-media and digital illustrations capture the humorous proceedings, the frogs’ very expressive personalities, and their lush, watery environment. The frogs’ dialogue is set in different fonts, incorporated into the artwork.
Kids will be saying “Mine!” about this delightful story that really rocks. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2024
ISBN: 9781682637463
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Serve this superbly designed title to all who relish slightly scary stories.
Kids know vegetables can be scary, but rarely are edible roots out to get someone. In this whimsical mock-horror tale, carrots nearly frighten the whiskers off Jasper Rabbit, an interloper at Crackenhopper Field.
Jasper loves carrots, especially those “free for the taking.” He pulls some in the morning, yanks out a few in the afternoon, and comes again at night to rip out more. Reynolds builds delicious suspense with succinct language that allows understatements to be fully exploited in Brown’s hilarious illustrations. The cartoon pictures, executed in pencil and then digitally colored, are in various shades of gray and serve as a perfectly gloomy backdrop for the vegetables’ eerie orange on each page. “Jasper couldn’t get enough carrots … / … until they started following him.” The plot intensifies as Jasper not only begins to hear the veggies nearby, but also begins to see them everywhere. Initially, young readers will wonder if this is all a product of Jasper’s imagination. Was it a few snarling carrots or just some bathing items peeking out from behind the shower curtain? The ending truly satisfies both readers and the book’s characters alike. And a lesson on greed goes down like honey instead of a forkful of spinach.
Serve this superbly designed title to all who relish slightly scary stories. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 21, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0297-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 1, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2012
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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