Bubble confidently walks right to the tent, securely holding his sleeping bag and pillow for his overnight tent adventure with his sister, uncertain Pearl, who awkwardly holds her gear as if it might fall on her feet. When night comes, she looks wide-eyed and uncertain where Bubble is the picture of calm manly courage, so at ease that he falls asleep even though three mice join them in the tent. He wakes up to welcome a cat, rabbits, dog, sheep, hen, and horse, but once the tent is full to bulging, everyone including no-longer nervous Pearl falls asleep to dream. Pearl’s trepidation doesn’t add to the story; instead, it mildly supports a body of literature that pictures girls as timid and afraid. The expressive, simple watercolor and black line drawings introduce and then expand this aspect taken from the text, but also add to the joy of outdoor adventure and the humor involved in a tent stuffed with children and animals. Kruusval’s (You’re Growing Up, Pontus!, 2001, etc.) skill in color and design heightens the effectiveness of the cumulative structure of the text with a grace to charm a young reader who may read one more book before going to sleep. (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2002
ISBN: 91-29-65654-0
Page Count: 28
Publisher: R&S/Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2002
BOOK REVIEW
This sweet story of first-time pet ownership is sure to appeal to young animal lovers of all kinds and especially to feline...
McQuinn and Beardshaw’s (Leo Can Swim, 2016, etc.) adorable, black preschool heroine, Lola, is back for another turn.
Lola loves cats, as is evident by her bedroom full of plush cat dolls and feline artwork, but what Lola desires most of all is a real-life cat to call her own. Mommy is hesitant, warning that “looking after a cat is a lot of work,” but when Lola proves she is up to the task, Mommy relents and accompanies Lola to the animal shelter to select a kitten to rescue. “Before Lola can decide, one little cat chooses her!” Many readers will surely appreciate the plotline of shelter-animal pet adoption. Once their home is prepared, Lola and Mommy bring the kitten home, where Lola dubs her Makeda after “an African queen.” Throughout, Beardshaw’s signature bright acrylic illustrations with soft edges pop with youthful exuberance. Details such as Lola’s simple care chart may even serve as inspiration for other young aspiring pet owners. The simple text makes this a suitable story for sharing one-on-one or in a small group or for beginning readers to pursue independently.
This sweet story of first-time pet ownership is sure to appeal to young animal lovers of all kinds and especially to feline fanciers. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-58089-736-5
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Review Posted Online: Dec. 5, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2016
When a little pig worries what will happen when he’s away at school, his mother makes him feel better in this reassuring picture-book debut. “You should always remember this,” says mother pig, “I love you when I’m with you and I love you when we’re apart.” “ ‘That means you love me all day long!’ ” the child responds. Burris’s illustrations are cheerful and bright; saturated colors outlined in black make the images look animated as the child goes about his day at school from morning arrival (“I love you when you make a new friend”), to lunch (“I love you when you let a burp sneak out”) and recess (“I love you when you wait for your turn [on the swings]”). Even the rough spots—tripping on shoelaces, spilling juice, or getting stuck on the top of the slide—are smoothed over by mother’s love. At day’s end, mother and son share a bedtime story. Youngsters new to school will see themselves in little pig’s experiences and be buoyed by his triumphs—no matter what, little pig keeps on trucking. Likewise, parents and caregivers will find this useful in its treatment of separation anxiety. (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2002
ISBN: 0-06-050276-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2002
BOOK REVIEW
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