Arr-propriate for multiple rereadings and more fun than a bottle of rum! (Picture book. 3-6)
Forget the bears. Treasure’s the name of the game in this reimagining of a storytime staple.
Replicating the rhythms from “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” and substituting swashbuckler speak, the narrative sends six intrepid (not to mention adorable) animal crewmates forth for gold and glory. “We’re goin’ on a treasure hunt. / We’re gonna fetch some gold! / YO-HO-HO! / Me hearties, let’s go!” No true journey can exist without peril, and so the adventurers must face down a giant squid, “wicked whales,” a hurricane, massive waves, and fighting skeletons. It’s all worth it in the end, until they face most fearsome beastie yet: a mouse. Multiple readings will yield a comfortable telling, as there can be a bit of visual confusion (the mouse is so small when it appears that readers could be forgiven for missing it initially). Allowing for plenty of interactive hand motions and audience participation, this is custom-made for pirate-themed storytimes for all ages. Fleck takes great pains to render the scary moments soft and cuddly and even pops in delightful details, such as how exactly a pirate sloth would get about (answer: slowly). The pirate bunny uses a peg leg, and the pirate turtle wears an eye patch.
Arr-propriate for multiple rereadings and more fun than a bottle of rum! (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 16, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-374-30641-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: Feb. 5, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2019
This Thomas wannabe is eminently skippable.
Braun introduces another pair of machine pals in his latest, following Toot and Pop (2012) and Digger and Tom (2013).
Chug is a hardworking little engine who uses his two cars and his crane to collect and deliver freight. He may not be fast, but he is careful and dependable. Whoosh is a passenger train who sometimes pokes fun at Chug, calling him a slowpoke. Readers follow Chug on his rounds as he goes “into the forest… / past the lake… / and through the tunnel.” He comes to a stop at a junction, where the signal box tells him there’s danger ahead. While the patient engine waits and waits for the light to turn green, the impetuous Whoosh flies by. When a rock slide and a hole in the bridge trap the larger engine, it’s Chug who comes to the rescue, passing the still-red light to methodically remove the rocks and free Whoosh, who promises to pay better attention. Whoosh thanks Chug for being such a good pal, but since their friendship was not established at the beginning, their bond seems a little shallow—the relationship seems mostly to consist of Whoosh’s harping on Chug’s slowness, both before and after the rescue. Braun’s digital illustrations are bright, bold and clean; they combine with the ever-popular subject of trains to grab readers’ attention, but the story within won’t hold it.
This Thomas wannabe is eminently skippable. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 27, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-06-207754-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2014
This beautifully executed book about the bond between father and child that can be as deep as the darkest sea and powerful...
A young whale awaits the call for his first migration with a mix of concern and anticipation, but Papa’s strong reassuring presence and sage advice make for an exhilarating journey.
Little Blue is eager to know how far they will travel, how they will know where to go and how to swim so quickly as they await the signal from other whales. Papa’s wise replies teach as well as comfort. When Little Blue hears a sound from afar, Papa signals for them to begin the long swim to their summer feeding ground. “Papa’s voice echoed across the sea, through the liquid light and deep into the mysterious black.” Marino’s text has a lyrical quality that pairs beautifully with the magical mixed-media illustrations created with gouache and textured paper. By varying the perspective in the spreads, she conveys the vastness of the ocean to children. On one, the father and child look rather small moving through a great expanse of turquoise blues, while on another, a close-up of the whales’ faces emphasizes the warm intimacy between the pair. Dramatic changes in color signal emotional shifts in the story.
This beautifully executed book about the bond between father and child that can be as deep as the darkest sea and powerful enough to help navigate in times of trouble will resonate with readers both young and old. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 3, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-670-01315-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2014
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