Lovely sentiments in a Christmas-card–sized package.
Abundant Christmas wishes from the narrator to readers drive this simple picture book with a small trim size.
The rhyming text introduces the stars on Christmas Eve as wishes “come true for those who believe.” Three children, two with brown skin and one with beige, and their orange cat look out a window together at the sky full of twinkling stars over their snow-covered house lined with Christmas lights. Wearing what appear to be pajamas, the children then run downstairs toward the Christmas tree, with decorations in hand, as the text begins to list “a handful [of wishes] that I wish for you.” The rhythmic, rhyming phrases, one or two per page, highlight Christmas delights like “Christmas tree baubles, gold angels and bells,” as well as more-general winter pleasures such as “mittens and snowballs, snow angels and boots.” The three children and their cat play outside with neighbors, throwing snowballs and sledding down a steep hill, before enjoying hot chocolate, singing with community, thinking of Santa, and snuggling up with stories in bed. The gifts the characters give one another are represented by hearts and stars, with “the joy of giving” as one of the narrator’s wishes for readers. The text is a pleasure to read, with its emphasis on the joy of experiencing the season with loved ones. The scratchy, minimalist illustrations bring just enough playful, childish energy to carry one through the quick read. The community is multiracial; Santa is White.
Lovely sentiments in a Christmas-card–sized package. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Oct. 5, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-4521-8436-4
Page Count: 60
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
It’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how many mediocre sequels you can squeeze out of Seussian property.
Since a reformed Grinch is hardly any fun, this follow-up Grinches him up once more.
Those seeking more of the same, prepare to receive precisely that. Christmas is coming (again!), and the Grinch can hardly wait. He’s been patient all year, and now he can finally show the Whos down in Who-ville how much he’s changed. When the Grinch learns of a tree-decorating contest, he figures that if he wins, it’ll prove he truly has the Christmas spirit. He throws himself into the task, but when it comes time to judge the trees, the Grinch is horrified to discover that he’s received only the second-place trophy. Can Cindy-Lou Who find the words to save the day? Replicating many of the original beats and wordplay of the original, this tale feels like less a sequel and more like a vaguely rewritten variation. Meanwhile, Ruiz’s art seeks to bridge the gap between the animated Chuck Jones version of the Grinch and the one depicted in the original book. This thankless task results in a strange uncanny valley between Seuss and Jones but does allow the artist a chance to colorize everything and lend some racial diversity to the Who population (Cindy-Lou is light-skinned). (This book was reviewed digitally.)
It’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how many mediocre sequels you can squeeze out of Seussian property. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9780593563168
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2023
Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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