A short, funny dinosaur-themed story for just before lights out.
A dinosaur child is her own worst enemy at bedtime in LoBue’s picture book.
Sleepy Dinosaur has had a big day: She’s been to the park, seen a movie, and been chased by dogs, and now she’s tired and ready to sleep. The only problem is that every time she yawns, she lets out an uncontrollable roar that wakes all the humans in her urban neighborhood. In their annoyance, they all let out such a large chorus of shushing that the staticlike noise lulls Sleepy Dinosaur to sleep. Schelsky’s full-color illustrations render Sleepy Dinosaur as a comical but still potentially dangerous T-rex, wearing a T-shirt and no pants, with an oversize head, toothy smile, and alligator belly. Human characters have diverse skin tones and, like Sleepy Dinosaur, wear sleeping caps. The protagonist seems to have no feral or malicious instincts—her roaring is involuntary, which prevents her own sleep and which she wants to get under control. The story resolves neatly and quickly, making this a brisk bedtime read. It’s unclear what human behavior roaring might be analogous for here, though caregivers may recognize in Sleepy Dinosaur a child who badly needs to slumber and needs help to quiet their mind.
A short, funny dinosaur-themed story for just before lights out.Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2021
ISBN: 9781737154419
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: April 17, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
PERSPECTIVES
A glowing tribute to a remarkable natural wonder.
When the northern lights twinkle, the winter skies are never truly dark.
Though its title might suggest a strictly winter holiday–themed book—think Christmas-tree bulbs or Hanukkah candles—this poetic picture book, a British import, actually describes the northern lights from the lights’ own point of view. In quiet verse, they tell how they’re formed—“as specks of dust blown to Earth from the sun”—and how they spread their brilliant colors as they travel across various weather patterns in wintry night skies. The illuminations deliver not only transcendent brilliance, but also joy to the numerous flocks, packs, and herds of wonderstruck animals (polar bears, arctic hares, whales, seals, reindeer, wolves, and various bird species among them) and to appreciative Indigenous people—the “storytellers”—who dwell in the Arctic lands below. Readers will delight in the variety of wildlife that call these snowbound forests and waters home; they might also long to feel the “magic” experienced and hear the singing of the people greeting the beaming lights. One might have wished for a very simple explanation of the phenomenon. Still, the delicately lovely illustrations capture the lights’ sparkling luminosity. Some spreads have few or no words, allowing the lush colors to speak for themselves. While this may not explicitly be a holiday book, the wintry setting and celebratory mood make it a delightful seasonal addition. People depicted have varied skin tones. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A glowing tribute to a remarkable natural wonder. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-56313-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022
A laugh-out-loud tale that also fosters respect for nature.
Bird gives Squirrel a lesson in spring and the flowers that come with it.
Everyone’s favorite overly possessive squirrel, introduced in The Leaf Thief (2021), returns for a new seasonal tale. Happy to see the leaves back on their tree, Squirrel is surprised by odd sounds. Then a strange bird flies at Squirrel’s head. Squirrel runs to their friend Bird, who has all the answers: Those noises were a cuckoo’s call and a bumblebee, and the bird was a swallow—all are signs of spring. The duo discover a tiny yellow flower, which Bird says is another sign of spring. Squirrel asserts possession (of course) and proceeds to try to protect it. Squirrel wants to keep it from getting wet, but Bird explains the flower needs the rain. Squirrel tries to safeguard the flower from the bees until Bird says that bees help flowers. After Squirrel’s attempt to keep the flower safe under a bucket nearly kills it, Bird persuades Squirrel to leave the flower be…and the next morning, they wake to a wonderful surprise. Hemming’s naïve squirrel and sage bird team up again for a giggle-inducing lesson about the natural world, brought to life by Slater’s energetic, bright, digitally created art, featuring endearing, big-eyed characters. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A laugh-out-loud tale that also fosters respect for nature. (flower facts) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 28, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-72827-136-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
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