When timid, inconsequential Theodore (a close cousin to Frederick and Alexander) discovers a blue mushroom that says "quirk," he convinces his friends—a lizard, a turtle, and a frog—that this is the Mushroom of Truth, "the only one in the whole world," and that "quirk" means "that the mouse should be venerated above all other animals." The fraud works until the fora friends (among them a crowned and garlanded Theodore riding on the turtle's back) come upon a whole field of quirking blue mushrooms; then the other animals turn on Theodore, who runs away never to be seen again. Theodore is just too appealing for either his self-promotion or his disappearance to be taken with equanimity, but we have to admit that his fate fits the crime. Lionni's collages in earthy browns and greens (except for the mushrooms) are more restrained than his backgrounds for Alexander and the Wind-up Mouse (1969) and subtler in their interplay of artifice and nature.
Pub Date: Nov. 15, 1971
ISBN: 0375845518
Page Count: 34
Publisher: Pantheon
Review Posted Online: May 1, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1971
The cozy art and tender verse will appeal to those seeking sentimental bedtime fare.
A quiet and gentle lift-the-flap book from the Sandra Magsamen design franchise.
Through the use of simple endearments, the rhymes invite youngsters to bed, “Good night, my little buttercup. / It’s off to bed for you. // Good night, my precious baby bear. / May all your dreams come true.” The right page features a friendly cartoon drawing of the endearment embodied, such as a smiling flower, an open-armed teddy bear and a playful monkey, on a large, page-covering flap. Underneath the flap, the character appears to be blissfully asleep. The facing page and the verso of each flap feature the text in a loose typeface that has a handwritten feel. The characters and a few key words in the text are outlined in dotted lines, reminiscent of stitch-work. It is odd that the fine print on the back cover states, “Recommended for ages 3 & up,” since the rounded cartoons in highly saturated colors will appeal to babies, the flaps will entice toddlers, and there are no choking hazard warnings. The tactile crescent moon, constructed of a “safe & nontoxic” polyurethane foam and covered with sparkly fabric, is a playful gimmick, but it will make spine-out shelving difficult in bookcases.
The cozy art and tender verse will appeal to those seeking sentimental bedtime fare. (Board book. 0-18 mos.)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-316-17691-0
Page Count: 10
Publisher: LB Kids/Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Jan. 27, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Light, friendly, and not at all preachy—a gentle win for a kinder world.
Rhyming couplets use the alphabet to simply explain the abstract concept of kindness.
Each letter of the alphabet stands for a word that adds nuance to the notion while line drawings of pink-cheeked stuffed animals—bear, bunny, elephant, mouse, lion, and giraffe—illustrate the behavior. The verses hint at exactly how to act kindly. Some are concrete: “Ii is for inviting everyone to play.” Some suggest attitudes that facilitate kindness. For example, “Bb is for believing things will be okay in the end!” and “Hh is for hope—tomorrow’s another day!” While many might take issue with the simplistic assertion that “Ee is for everyone—we are all the same,” taken as a whole, the book will lead even the youngest toddlers to the message. Organizationally, the book devotes one page each to 11 letters while 14 others share pages. “Zz is sleeping peacefully when your day of kindness is through” sprawls across a final double-page spread, showing all the animals fast asleep. Creating an ABC book is harder than this makes it look. The true test is what is chosen to represent Q, X, Y, and Z. “Quiet times,” “Yes I can,” and the aforementioned “zzz”s ably rise to the challenge. “Xx is for kisses” is a bit of a stretch but understandable. Pastel backgrounds, uncluttered design, and unforced rhymes keep the focus on the concept.
Light, friendly, and not at all preachy—a gentle win for a kinder world. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: Dec. 24, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-593-12307-2
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Rodale Kids
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2020
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