A charming lesson on the power of accountability, apology, and friendship.
Bert has a big secret. Luckily, he has his friend Dot by his side—or rather, sitting on his head—to help him keep it.
Dot is a small, round, speckled bird with a striking plume of wispy fuchsia tail feathers. Bert is a big, lanky gray bird with a comfy head for Dot to perch upon. Most of the other birds think the pair odd, until a flock of Bert look-alikes compliment Bert on his fabulous headgear. “I am not your hat!” Dot protests, indignantly. Bert ignores her, strutting with pride, until she explodes with anger and flies away. Bert’s secret’s out: The whole time, Dot’s been hiding Bert’s tuft of flouncy, twisty orange hair. But instead of ridiculing him, Bert’s new bird friends think he looks glorious! Bert’s eager to share his joy with a friend, but he realizes Dot is gone, so he sets out to apologize. Dot considers Bert’s heartfelt apology for a moment before accepting, and Bert reiterates that while it was lovely to embrace his authentic self, he also missed having his good friend with him. Watercolor-inspired digital illustrations lend energetic movement to all the birds, showcasing charming facial expressions and personality traits unique to each. Backdrops rendered in muted colors or the white of the page allow the fancier birds to pop, especially hot-pink Dot.
A charming lesson on the power of accountability, apology, and friendship. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781665955362
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school...
The familiar theme of the challenges facing a new kid in town is given an original treatment by photographer Border in this book of photos of three-dimensional objects in a simple modeled landscape.
Peanut Butter is represented by a slice of white bread spread with the popular condiment. The other characters in the story—a hamburger with a pair of hot dogs in tow, a bowl of alphabet soup, a meatball jumping a rope of spaghetti, a carton of French fries and a pink cupcake—are represented by skillfully crafted models of these foods, anthropomorphized using simple wire construction. Rejected by each character in turn in his search for playmates, Peanut Butter discovers in the end that Jelly is his true match (not Cupcake, as the title suggests), perhaps because she is the only one who looks like him, being a slice of white bread spread with jelly. The friendly foods end up happily playing soccer together. Some parents may have trouble with the unabashedly happy depiction of carbs and American junk food (no carrots or celery sticks in this landscape), and others may find themselves troubled by the implication that friendship across difference is impossible.
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school experiences. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: July 29, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-399-16773-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2014
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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