Still called “Toddie” (though now he looks more like a preschoolah), the Bunyanesqe Mainer first met in The Wicked Big Toddlah (2007) tours the Big Apple—both with and without his normal-sized parents. Awed by the city’s scale even though he himself is tall enough to brush Grand Central Station’s starry ceiling, Toddie enjoys a Yankees game (“HOMAAH!”) but loses his parents when the train they are on pulls out during a moment of distraction. He suffers momentary pangs but then enjoys an afternoon playing in Central Park and environs with ant-sized fellow urchins. At last he does the King Kong thing to find his errant custodians (who get all the way to the Brooklyn Bridge before they realize they have lost their towering son). The next morning he wades out to the Statue of Liberty before taking a seat on (literally) the train home. Hawkes decks his gargantuan tourist out in loud summer casuals topped by a red buffalo-plaid wool cap, surrounds him with crowds that take even less notice of him than his parents do and finishes off the lark with a bit of goofery as Toddie is forced to return a certain oversized “souvenir.” A memorable excursion for city residents and would-be tourists alike. (Picture book. 5-7)
Pub Date: April 5, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-375-86188-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A well-structured and deceptively simple dose of encouragement for emerging readers
Aardvark sings a surprise song for their buddy, Mouse.
Hands on their hips in what may well be an attempt to assume the power stance, Aardvark begins with a statement: “I think I can.” On the next page, quizzical Mouse—arms crossed and one eyebrow raised—repeats the phrase as a question: “You think you can?” The two volley similar sentences back and forth in this repetitive pattern. After a few rounds, Aardvark reveals that what they think they can do is sing. Then Aardvark builds anticipation for their song by declaring it a surprise. From that point, the formula more or less flips, and Aardvark fields Mouse’s questions (“Do I have to hide my eyes?”), posed on recto, in the negative after the page turn (“No. You must look at me”). The dialogue is color-coded (blue for Aardvark, black for Mouse) so that the speakers are clearly differentiated. The difference in height between the two animals and, thus, above-head text placement creates additional visual matching. The small word count (just over 50 words and their variants) and short sentences build in further supports for emerging readers. Set against a white background, Brunson’s cartoony characters appear in the same position from page to page and vary only in expression. An opening note suggests that the book be read by a pair of readers who each take on a character’s lines and share the reading experience.
A well-structured and deceptively simple dose of encouragement for emerging readers . (Early reader. 5-7)Pub Date: March 28, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-7643-5691-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Schiffer
Review Posted Online: Dec. 21, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A breath of warmth from the far north.
When their mother leaves to help a neighbor, siblings Susan, Rebecca, and Peter are surprised when their father opens his wife’s wooden box of special things.
With Anaana gone from their iglu, the children play all their usual games: a jumping contest, blindfolded hide-and-seek, drawing on the ice window, and playing with the dolls their grandmother has made for them, but soon all three become bored. However, Ataata surprises them by opening Anaana’s wooden box and taking out her pencil! He hands it and a piece of paper to Susan, the oldest and narrator, so she can draw. Soon, the other children each have a turn with the pencil, but with the paper full, they draw on the back of an empty tea box. Ataata must sharpen the pencil with his knife, making the pencil much smaller; Susan wonders what will happen when Anaana returns. Authors Avingaq and Vsetula understand life in Nunavut, Canada, and embed in the story the importance of being responsible for belongings and caring for them wisely. A helpful glossary of the Inuktitut words (italicized on first reference within the story) is included in the backmatter. Chua depicts a close, loving Inuit family dressed in furs; a traditional ulu and seal-oil lamp can be seen along with a European kettle in the cozy interior.
A breath of warmth from the far north. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-77227-216-1
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Inhabit Media
Review Posted Online: June 22, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
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