Good and campy and a fine opportunity for vocabulary building. (Picture book. 4-8)
Two brothers, two great warriors—two brobarians!—engage in an epic backyard battle, until the “magic that ruled all” (aka mother) calls them in.
This mixed-media contribution from Ward is highly cinematic, both in imagery and narrative soundtrack. Iggy, the younger, is “master of the sword” (his rattle), “conquer[ing] magical beasts, and challeng[ing] colossal monsters” (the family dog and the outdoor grill). He does this all in his diaper, milk bottle tucked into his sash and crowned by a mop (literally) of hair. Otto, the older, “looked on... / ...as Iggy seized his army!” Iggy looms over Otto’s miniature medieval action figures. Otto is “not amused.” Sometimes the kooky overdramatization has its tongue so deep in its cheek it’s in jeopardy of poking through. It is also in jeopardy of scooting right over smaller heads, as when Iggy “navigate[s] treacherous quicksand.” Still, what young reader can’t relate to being worked into a frenzy when an older sibling, say, polishes off the milk in their bottle—that is, “guzzle[s] Iggy’s bah-bah, finishing every drop!”? If that is not call for a serious mud fight, then what is? Enter Mamabarian! “Heads bowed in shame, they marched inside to the dungeon of seclusion.” Yes, the bath.
Good and campy and a fine opportunity for vocabulary building. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 14, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5039-4167-0
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Two Lions
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2016
This beautiful celebration of the importance of family will also spur young readers to reflect on history.
An African American grandfather and grandson take a time-traveling journey through U.S. history in this mystical and heartwarming picture book.
When his grandson announces that he does not want to go to school, Big Papa takes action. Sweeping him up in his time machine (which looks a lot like a 1950s-era automobile), the pair visit Little Rock and Chicago in the ’40s through the ’80s, the places where Big Papa grew to manhood. In recounting his struggles with dangerous jobs and working conditions and his trepidation at marriage and impending fatherhood, Big Papa gives his grandson a lesson in developing bravery while also teaching him the importance of getting an education. Love and reverence for history and family radiate from Bernstorm’s words. Backmatter indicates that the story is inspired by the author’s family, and he couldn’t have penned a more moving testament to their dignity and endurance. Evans’ whimsical, sunny-hued illustrations have a dreamlike quality that nicely maintains balance between the fantasy of time travel and the heaviness of some of the subject matter. This is particularly evident in the vignette set in the Arkansas cotton fields, where a fellow African American tells Big Papa to give up school because “work, that’s all you ever gonna do.”
This beautiful celebration of the importance of family will also spur young readers to reflect on history. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Jan. 14, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-06-246331-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Oct. 8, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet Runaway Bunny book for the pirate set.
While reading a book about pirates, Danny considers sailing away with them. But what if he wants to come home?
As he reads with his mom, little Danny wonders aloud what it would be like to be a pirate. From the comfort of his couch, his questions persist. “What if I don’t like it on the pirate ship? And I want to come back home?” With steadfast love, his mother answers every “What if…?” with confident answers that reassure the young boy. Danny considers many logical barriers to his rescue, including the dangers of the ocean and the possibility that the friendly pirates may want to keep him. His mother’s answers, however, involve the magical element of a bottle filled with "magic spray." She metaphorically shrinks the problems with a few pumps of a handle. These "Alice in Wonderland" solutions seem unjustified given Danny’s reasonable questions. Luckily, the colorful full-spread illustrations simplify the nonsense and provide a mood of happy security throughout the story. Fortenberry’s playful illustrations freely borrow from cartoon conventions; the adorable Danny expresses no doubts about his security through two little dots for eyes.
A sweet Runaway Bunny book for the pirate set. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2321-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: July 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2011
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