Sure to inspire many a flight of fancy.
An ordinary day at the playground in the park turns into anything but when a group of imaginative kids meet up.
G-pa gives Cece 10 more minutes to play, but what a 10 minutes they are! At first, Cece slides and swings on the monkey bars but gradually turns to the group in the foreground: three children—Flora, Victor, and Wyatt—by a tree, one of whom has just found a “dinosaur seed” (in actuality, a rock). After cursory introductions, each of the children put their own spins on the imaginative interlude—a spooky robot, a hot lava tree—except Victor, who hangs on the periphery watching insects and insisting that rocks don’t grow…until Flora lends Victor a pair of binoculars that help the previously skeptical youngster see a gigantic dinosaur bug. One spaceship ride later, the kids gradually shed their pretend play to help the spooky robot, aka G-pa, catch his dog. As the older man listens to the kids recount their adventure, he comes up with a quest to occupy Cece on their walk home. Yankey’s characters wear bright colors and patterns that pop against the sepia backgrounds. As the children’s imaginations take off, the pages fill with color that again leaches out as they return to reality. G-pa and Cece are brown-skinned, and the supporting cast is diverse. Rereads are definitely necessary—the pictures reveal something new every time.
Sure to inspire many a flight of fancy. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: May 20, 2025
ISBN: 9798889830337
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beaming Books
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...
Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.
First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.
Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014
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This frenetic ode to fatherhood is predictable fare but may please series fans.
It’s time to look for the elusive Daddysaurus.
In this latest installment in the seemingly never-ending series about a group of diverse kids attempting to trap mythical creatures, the youngsters are now on the lookout for a big mauve dinosaur with an emblazoned D on his stomach and a superhero cape. The fast-moving Daddysaurus is always on the go; he will be difficult to catch. Armed with blueprints of possible ideas, the kids decide which traps to set. As in previous works, ones of the sticky variety seem popular. They cover barbells with fly paper (Daddysaurus like to exercise) and spread glue on the handle of a shovel (Daddysaurus also likes to garden). One clever trick involves tempting Daddysaurus with a drawing of a hole, taped to the wall, because he fixes everything that breaks. Daddysaurus is certainly engaged in the children’s lives, not a workaholic or absent, but he does fall into some standard tropes associated with fathers. The rhyming quatrains stumble at times but for the most part bounce along. Overall, though, text and art feel somewhat formulaic and likely will tempt only devotees of the series. The final page of the book (after Daddysaurus is caught with love) has a space for readers to write a note or draw a picture of their own Daddysaurus. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
This frenetic ode to fatherhood is predictable fare but may please series fans. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 1, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-72826-618-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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