Accurate but overstuffed.
Three children visit a local hospital for different reasons to help kids learn about medical care and personnel.
Emmy accompanies her mom for a regular maternity checkup that ends up with her mom going into labor and giving birth to her new brother. Leo arrives with his dad. He broke his arm and must go to X-ray and then gets a cast and a sling. Annabelle comes with her mom for a regular pediatric visit and a shot. These racially diverse kids visit a large hospital with lots of specialized (and similarly diverse) personnel, all of whom are pictured and labeled with their official titles. On some pages, the positions are defined. Some of the medical equipment is also labeled and defined, including the ultrasound equipment showing Emmy’s baby brother and the X-ray machine used to diagnose Leo’s arm. Pictures of these images will be of great interest to many young viewers. While the stylized illustrations thoroughly document the workings of this hospital and the narrative story about these three children could be interesting, these elements are undermined by the sheer volume of information that is being presented. The kids all look pretty young, and community-helper units are usually done in early-elementary grades. The specificity of the job titles (otolaryngologist, endocrinologist, cardiovascular nurse) and the large number of employees both mentioned and pictured create a mismatch between book and audience. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Accurate but overstuffed. (glossary) (Informational picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 12, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-06-308139-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
Energetic and earnest but not groundbreaking.
Unlikely friends Bear and Rabbit face fears together.
The anthropomorphic creatures set out on an adventure. Graphic-based illustrations give the book a Pixar movie feel, with a variety of page layouts that keep the story moving. Large blocks of black text are heavy on dialogue patterns as timid Bear and bold Rabbit encounter obstacles. Bear fears every one of them, from the stream to the mountain. He’ll do anything to avoid the objects of terror: taking a bus, a train, and even a helicopter. As Rabbit asks Bear if he’s frightened, Bear repeatedly responds, “I’m not scared, you’re scared!” and children will delight in the call-and-response opportunities. Adults may tire of the refrain, but attempts to keep everyone entertained are evident in asides about Bear's inability to brush food from his teeth (he’s too afraid to look at himself in the mirror) and Rabbit's superstrong ears (which do come in handy later). When Rabbit finds herself in danger after Bear defects on the adventure, Bear retraces the trip. Along the way, he notes that the stream wasn't as deep, nor the mountain as high, as he thought when he was scared. While picture-book shelves may not be screaming for another comedically sweet bear story, especially one that treads such familiar territory, many readers will appreciate this tale of overcoming fears. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Energetic and earnest but not groundbreaking. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: March 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35237-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2022
Precious—but timely and comforting all the same.
The two creatures who fulfilled each other’s yearning for physical contact in The Hug (2019) find alternative ways to connect in a time of social distancing.
Blushing and smiling and looking every bit as sweet as they did in their original meet-cute, Hedgehog and Tortoise respond to Owl’s reassurance that “there are lots of ways to show someone you love them” by standing on opposing pages and sending signals, letters, dances, air kisses, and songs across the gutter. Demonstrating their mutual love and friendship, they regard each other fondly across the gap through sun and storm, finally gesturing air hugs beneath a rainbow of colors and stars. “They could not touch. / They could not hug. // But they both knew / that they were loved.” In line with the minimalist narrative and illustrations there is no mention of the enforced separation’s cause nor, aside from the titular conjunction, any hint of its possible duration. Still, its core affirmation is delivered in a simple, direct, unmistakable way, and if the thematic connection with the previous outing seems made to order for a marketing opportunity, it does address a widespread emotional need in young (and maybe not so young) audiences. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9.8-by-19.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 78% of actual size.)
Precious—but timely and comforting all the same. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-5713-6558-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Review Posted Online: June 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020
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