This story of determination and friendship is simply and consistently told.
Bear is eager to prepare for the Summer Scoot but realizes learning to ride a bicycle from a book is harder than it appears.
Sure that his bicycle is in good shape and ready, Bear attempts his first ride by applying the instructions he has reviewed in Learn To Ride in Five Easy Steps. First he straddles the bike, next he grips the handlebars, then he begins to pedal by pushing off—but his attempts to balance result in a “Pedal-wibble. Pedal-wobble. Crash!” Complaining that it was not easy at all, Bear walks his bike to the library to find a different instruction book. Along the way he meets three friends: Porcupine, Doe, and Squirrel, each one at a different stage of mastery. In exchanges that are equal parts commiseration and encouragement, Bear learns that a new book is not the answer when he can keep trying and practicing with the support of his friends as Summer Scoot draws near. The message of perseverance is augmented with fine-lined cartoon drawings offering depth and color to a kind, purposeful narrative. All animals wear helmets with tightly buckled chin straps, the massive Bear looking particularly comical. A two-page addendum outlines ways to care for and responsibly ride a two-wheeler courtesy of Bear and his riding buddies.
This story of determination and friendship is simply and consistently told. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: April 20, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5064-6569-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Beaming Books
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
Hee haw.
The print version of a knee-slapping cumulative ditty.
In the song, Smith meets a donkey on the road. It is three-legged, and so a “wonky donkey” that, on further examination, has but one eye and so is a “winky wonky donkey” with a taste for country music and therefore a “honky-tonky winky wonky donkey,” and so on to a final characterization as a “spunky hanky-panky cranky stinky-dinky lanky honky-tonky winky wonky donkey.” A free musical recording (of this version, anyway—the author’s website hints at an adults-only version of the song) is available from the publisher and elsewhere online. Even though the book has no included soundtrack, the sly, high-spirited, eye patch–sporting donkey that grins, winks, farts, and clumps its way through the song on a prosthetic metal hoof in Cowley’s informal watercolors supplies comical visual flourishes for the silly wordplay. Look for ready guffaws from young audiences, whether read or sung, though those attuned to disability stereotypes may find themselves wincing instead or as well.
Hee haw. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: May 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-545-26124-1
Page Count: 26
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Dec. 28, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Totes adorbs.
A cuddly, squishy pug’s puggy-wuggy diary.
Equipped with both #pugunicorn and #pughotdog outfits, pug Baron von Bubbles (aka Bub) is the kind of dog that always dresses to impress. Bub also makes lots of memorable faces, such as the “Hey, you’re not the boss of me!” expression aimed at Duchess, the snooty pink house cat. Some of Bub’s favorite things include skateboarding, a favorite teddy, and eating peanut butter. Bub also loves Bella, who adopted Bub from a fair—it was “love at first sniff.” Together, Bub and Bella do a lot of arts and crafts. Their latest project: entering Bella’s school’s inventor challenge by making a super-duper awesome rocket. But, when the pesky neighborhood squirrel, Nutz, makes off with Bub’s bear, Bub accidentally ruins their project. How will they win the contest? More importantly, how will Bella ever forgive him? May’s cutesy, full-color cartoon art sets the tone for this pug-tastic romp for the new-to–chapter-books crowd. Emojilike faces accentuate Bub’s already expressive character design. Bub’s infectious first-person narration pushes the silly factor off the charts. In addition to creating the look and feel of a diary, the lined paper helps readers follow the eight-chapter story. Most pages have fewer than five sentences, often broken into smaller sections. Additional text appears in color-coded speech bubbles. Bella presents white.
Totes adorbs. (Fiction. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-53003-2
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2019
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