A hero’s journey into outer space that plays fast and loose with the facts.
A quick trip into space from the point of view of, literally, a fly on the wall.
Flynn, a fly who lives in West Texas, has trouble focusing on lessons in school. Nevertheless, Flynn longs to become an astronaut and realizes a lifelong dream by buzzing into a space capsule just as it’s about to be launched. After getting a high-five from one astronaut (which in a different, more realistic story would probably have been something other than a friendly welcome) and taking a gander with another at the planet below, Flynn returns to the surface to receive an astronaut pin and to reflect on “how learning about space helps us protect our home.” Flynn, or perhaps the author, should have paid more attention to those school lessons. An astronaut wrongly claims that there’s “no gravity” in space, and the three crew members (who vary in skin tone) and their tiny stowaway apparently experience no G-forces at all on launch, since the only time it’s mentioned is upon reentry. The narrative is on the thin side and likely won't entice youngsters for rereads. In Stewart’s elaborately constructed yet murky illustrations, the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, and other landmarks not visible from space without telescopic aid loom large, along with the Grand Canyon and others that are. Members of Flynn’s heavily anthropomorphized fly family are depicted in shades of blue and brown. The dust jacket reverses into a skinny glow-in-the-dark poster.
A hero’s journey into outer space that plays fast and loose with the facts. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2024
ISBN: 9781685550639
Page Count: 32
Publisher: The Collective Book Studio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2024
A lesson that never grows old, enacted with verve by two favorite friends
Gerald the elephant learns a truth familiar to every preschooler—heck, every human: “Waiting is not easy!”
When Piggie cartwheels up to Gerald announcing that she has a surprise for him, Gerald is less than pleased to learn that the “surprise is a surprise.” Gerald pumps Piggie for information (it’s big, it’s pretty, and they can share it), but Piggie holds fast on this basic principle: Gerald will have to wait. Gerald lets out an almighty “GROAN!” Variations on this basic exchange occur throughout the day; Gerald pleads, Piggie insists they must wait; Gerald groans. As the day turns to twilight (signaled by the backgrounds that darken from mauve to gray to charcoal), Gerald gets grumpy. “WE HAVE WASTED THE WHOLE DAY!…And for WHAT!?” Piggie then gestures up to the Milky Way, which an awed Gerald acknowledges “was worth the wait.” Willems relies even more than usual on the slightest of changes in posture, layout and typography, as two waiting figures can’t help but be pretty static. At one point, Piggie assumes the lotus position, infuriating Gerald. Most amusingly, Gerald’s elephantine groans assume weighty physicality in spread-filling speech bubbles that knock Piggie to the ground. And the spectacular, photo-collaged images of the Milky Way that dwarf the two friends makes it clear that it was indeed worth the wait.
A lesson that never grows old, enacted with verve by two favorite friends . (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4231-9957-1
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2014
Cuándo quieras un perro feliz, look no further.
A young Latine boy finally gets to rescue the dog of his dreams, but training can be a challenge in two languages.
Like many children, José has been dreaming of having a pet of his own, specifically un perro, a dog. Like any good owner, José promptly begins training his new canine companion but soon realizes his rescue mutt, Feliz, knows only words in English. This is a problem because in José’s home everyone speaks both Spanish and English. José and Feliz must rise to the challenge; fortunately, treats and snuggles are great motivators. The narrative uses Spanish words and phrases throughout (“perros blancos,” “¡Yo quiero este!” “¡Sientate!”), usually with English context clues for understanding. This is complex vocabulary for an early reader, and the shifting in phonics from English to Spanish will be challenging for true beginners; the book is best suited for intermediate to advanced readers in dual-language classrooms or homes. Much like Feliz, however, it is sure to find a loving (and bilingual) home. Cheerful illustrations complement the text, helping readers make sense of the narrative. While José and his mother are darker-skinned, his father and sister are lighter-skinned. (This review has been updated for accuracy.)
Cuándo quieras un perro feliz, look no further. (glossary of Spanish-English words) (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-52116-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
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