A clever tale of invention and creativity.
A young inventor designs the perfect prosthetic leg for her after-school activities in DeJong’s illustrated children’s book.
Freckle-faced Lucy, who was born “with one regular leg and one little leg,” has a special talent. She’s an inventor who has a workshop in her closet for building special prosthetic legs. Before school, she debates which one she’ll wear. Her spring leg will be too bouncy, and the flipper on her swimming leg might trip her up in the classroom. Her snowboard leg is out of season. Finally, Lucy decides on her walking leg, which does everything she needs—until it flies off when she kicks a soccer ball too hard. Luckily, a friend catches and returns it, so Lucy can go to dance class. One thing she can’t do in ballet is get her walking leg to point; she returns to her workshop and soon returns with a perfectly pointed, sparkly ballerina leg. The “fancy leg” is just right for all her activities, but especially for ballet. DeJong uses accessible language in a conversational tone to engage young readers. Lucy is a cheerful, smart protagonist who doesn’t let the lack of a pointed toe get her down for long. Instead, she recognizes problems and finds solutions, surrounding herself with supportive friends and family. DeJong captures the protagonist’s attitude in phrases such as “She had a lot more legs than most of her friends.” Lucy’s community readily accepts her differences and values her imagination and skill, which young readers with their own assistive devices may find affirming. Illustrator Reyes captures Lucy’s enthusiasm and inventiveness in her full-color cartoon illustrations. The scenes that Lucy imagines when she pictures wearing the wrong leg capture her humor, and Reyes’ use of lighting gives the images welcome depth. Lucy is depicted with brown skin; other characters have a range of skin tones.
A clever tale of invention and creativity.Pub Date: Jan. 8, 2024
ISBN: 9781039196810
Page Count: 28
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among
Pete, the cat who couldn’t care less, celebrates Christmas with his inimitable lassitude.
If it weren’t part of the title and repeated on every other page, readers unfamiliar with Pete’s shtick might have a hard time arriving at “groovy” to describe his Christmas celebration, as the expressionless cat displays not a hint of groove in Dean’s now-trademark illustrations. Nor does Pete have a great sense of scansion: “On the first day of Christmas, / Pete gave to me… / A road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” The cat is shown at the wheel of a yellow microbus strung with garland and lights and with a star-topped tree tied to its roof. On the second day of Christmas Pete gives “me” (here depicted as a gray squirrel who gets on the bus) “2 fuzzy gloves, and a road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” On the third day, he gives “me” (now a white cat who joins Pete and the squirrel) “3 yummy cupcakes,” etc. The “me” mentioned in the lyrics changes from day to day and gift to gift, with “4 far-out surfboards” (a frog), “5 onion rings” (crocodile), and “6 skateboards rolling” (a yellow bird that shares its skateboards with the white cat, the squirrel, the frog, and the crocodile while Pete drives on). Gifts and animals pile on until the microbus finally arrives at the seaside and readers are told yet again that it’s all “GROOVY!”
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among . (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-267527-9
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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