Readers will hope to see more of Henry Bear
Henry Bear’s parents have been entirely too much “fun” since he wished them so on his last birthday; on this birthday, he knows exactly what to wish for.
Mama and Papa Bear beg him to stay up past bedtime. “Just ten more minutes?…Pleeeeease?” Yawning, Henry Bear gets out of bed to play with his parents. They want to climb trees (“Higher!”), play on the swings, and ride bikes—but tomorrow is a school day, Henry Bear reminds them, and he puts himself to bed. Mama Bear serves chocolate cake for breakfast, and his parents suggest they all stay home and watch TV. Mama says school is boring, but Henry rushes off. At school he meets a new girl named Marjani, who appears to be dressed in a shalwar kameez with hijab. They become friends, and Henry Bear invites her over for his birthday. It’s a good thing she comes, because Mama Bear serves a big bowl of candy—no cake, since they “always” have that!—but thank goodness, Marjani brings him a cupcake with a candle on top. Henry Bear is lovable, and his humorous dilemma will resonate with any child who has ever wished their parents were more fun. The illustrations are simple yet sophisticated, with a distinct mustard-slate-brick color palette and multiple patterns. Henry Bear’s European-inspired town of cobblestone and tile roofs is the perfect setting for this funny, playful tale.
Readers will hope to see more of Henry Bear . (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: April 30, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-62672-332-0
Page Count: 45
Publisher: Neal Porter/Roaring Brook
Review Posted Online: Jan. 14, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
Perfect for those looking for a scary Halloween tale that won’t leave them with more fears than they started with. Pair with...
Reynolds and Brown have crafted a Halloween tale that balances a really spooky premise with the hilarity that accompanies any mention of underwear.
Jasper Rabbit needs new underwear. Plain White satisfies him until he spies them: “Creepy underwear! So creepy! So comfy! They were glorious.” The underwear of his dreams is a pair of radioactive-green briefs with a Frankenstein face on the front, the green color standing out all the more due to Brown’s choice to do the entire book in grayscale save for the underwear’s glowing green…and glow they do, as Jasper soon discovers. Despite his “I’m a big rabbit” assertion, that glow creeps him out, so he stuffs them in the hamper and dons Plain White. In the morning, though, he’s wearing green! He goes to increasing lengths to get rid of the glowing menace, but they don’t stay gone. It’s only when Jasper finally admits to himself that maybe he’s not such a big rabbit after all that he thinks of a clever solution to his fear of the dark. Brown’s illustrations keep the backgrounds and details simple so readers focus on Jasper’s every emotion, writ large on his expressive face. And careful observers will note that the underwear’s expression also changes, adding a bit more creep to the tale.
Perfect for those looking for a scary Halloween tale that won’t leave them with more fears than they started with. Pair with Dr. Seuss’ tale of animate, empty pants. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Aug. 22, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0298-0
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
Say hello to a relatable and rewarding early reader!
Fun with friends makes for a great day.
Norbit, a salmon-colored worm with a pink kerchief, joyfully greets the day and everyone he encounters. “Hello, friends! It’s time for fun with the sun! Let’s play!” He and his menagerie of forest pals—including the sun, who grows limbs and descends from the sky—exuberantly engage in various forms of physical activity such as jumping, going down a slide, spinning around, and watching the clouds go by. Young readers will readily relate, as these are games that most children are familiar with. As day turns to night, Norbit says farewell to Sun and welcomes Moon with an invitation to continue the fun. Watkins has created a vivid world of movement and merriment. Her illustrations feature bright bursts of color that match the energy of the text, with most sentences ending in an exclamation point. The author/illustrator incorporates many elements that make for an ideal early-reading experience (despite the use of a contraction or two): art free from clutter, text consisting of words with only one or two syllables, and repetition and recurring bits, such as a continued game of hide-and-seek with Sun. Inspired by never-before-seen sketches from the Dr. Seuss Collection archives at the University of California San Diego, this is the first title for Seuss Studios, a new imprint for original stories from “emerging authors and illustrators” who “honor Seuss’s hallmark spirit of creativity and imagination.”
Say hello to a relatable and rewarding early reader! (author's note) (Early reader. 5-8)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9780593646212
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Seuss Studios
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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