A hilarious and heartwarming exposé of adults’ often ridiculous expectations for children.
Various anthropomorphized animals and natural phenomena scold their children for behaving in accordance with their natures.
A chick cracks through its shell, only for its parent to admonish it for breaking its egg. A wolf tells its howling cub to be quiet. A cloud wants its child to stop crying (raining). Over and over again, these parents voice their disapproval. The repetitive structure allows both tension and comedy to steadily build, leaving readers wondering exactly how these series of demands and reprimands will be resolved—after all, aren’t these children simply being true to themselves? A pig scolds its child for wallowing in the mud, a frog chides its offspring for leaping into the water, and a worm tells its little one to “stop squirming!” It all culminates when a young octopus finally speaks up: “I am just being me.” The enveloping hug from the parent octopus says it all. This brief, simple story wastes no words, instead delivering a wallop of humor and emotion that will both entertain and foster empathy in adults inclined to punish youngsters for simply following their natural inclinations. Squiggly illustrations with minimal outlines and brief splashes of color emphasize the silliness of the demands. The visuals effectively get the action across while letting the absurdity of the parents’ orders and concerns speak for themselves.
A hilarious and heartwarming exposé of adults’ often ridiculous expectations for children. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 23, 2024
ISBN: 9780593660409
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Rise x Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Oct. 7, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2023
PERSPECTIVES
A disappointing follow-up.
Inventor Izzy Gizmo is back in this sequel to her eponymous debut (2017).
While busily inventing one day, Izzy receives an invitation from the Genius Guild to their annual convention. Though Izzy’s “inventions…don’t always work,” Grandpa (apparently her sole caregiver) encourages her to go. The next day they undertake a long journey “over fields, hills, and waves” and “mile after mile” to isolated Technoff Isle. There, Izzy finds she must compete against four other kids to create the most impressive machine. The colorful, detail-rich illustrations chronicle how poor Izzy is thwarted at every turn by Abi von Lavish, a Veruca Salt–esque character who takes all the supplies for herself. But when Abi abandons her project, Izzy salvages the pieces and decides to take Grandpa’s advice to create a machine that “can really be put to good use.” A frustrated Izzy’s impatience with a friend almost foils her chance at the prize, but all’s well that ends well. There’s much to like: Brown-skinned inventor girl Izzy is an appealing character, it’s great to see a nurturing brown-skinned male caregiver, the idea of an “Invention Convention” is fun, and a sustainable-energy invention is laudable. However, these elements don’t make up for rhymes that often feel forced and a lackluster story.
A disappointing follow-up. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68263-164-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2020
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series.
Another creature is on the loose.
The long-running series continues its successful formula with this Hallmark card of a book, which features bright illustrations and catchy rhymes. This time, the mythical creature the racially diverse children set out to catch is an absent mom who does it all (lists of descriptors include the words banker, caregiver, nurse, doctor, driver, chef, housekeeper, teacher, entertainer, playmate, laundry service, problem solver, handywoman, cleaner, and alarm clock) but doesn’t seem to have a job outside the home and is inexplicably a dinosaur. As the children prepare gifts and a meal for her, the text becomes an ode to the skills the Mamasaurus possesses (“Day or night she’s always there. / She meets every wish and need”) and values she instills (“Sometimes life can mean hard work,” “kindness matters,” and “what counts is doing your best”). This well-intentioned selection veers into cliche generously sprinkled with saccharine but manages to redeem itself with its appreciation for mothers and all that they may do. Endpapers include a “to” and “from” page framed in a heart, as well as a page where young gift givers or recipients can draw a picture of their Mamasaurus.
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781728274300
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
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