Doesn’t work as a children’s introduction to Van Gogh’s art; stick with the master’s actual paintings.
An illustrated story inspired by Van Gogh’s masterpieces.
A tan “sunflower baby” with hair resembling sunbeams emerges from a sunflower still life in Van Gogh’s bedroom and chases the sun. It eludes the child, who pursues it through a sun-dappled landscape. The sprite is disconsolate when night falls. Then day becomes “a starry night sky,” and the sunflower baby is embedded in a glowing orb in that revered painting. The book re-creates seven works of art by Van Gogh; they are named on the title page, and the museums where they are exhibited are listed. (One is privately owned.) The referenced paintings are used as backgrounds for the sunflower baby’s escapade, beginning with a scene inspired by the renowned painting of Van Gogh’s bedroom, continuing with “The Sower,” and concluding with the final pages, encompassing “Starry Night.” Some scenes include distant views—familiar to Van Gogh aficionados—of a straw-hatted artist with easel and pipe; some scenes depict a red-haired man meant to represent Van Gogh. Note the latter’s sly “nighttime” message on the final page. The book is translated from Dutch, and the creator uses vivid colors and bold brush strokes à la Vincent. However, the story makes little sense narratively (why does the child’s hair suddenly turn gold?), and anyone unfamiliar with Van Gogh’s work won’t understand the artistic homages. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Doesn’t work as a children’s introduction to Van Gogh’s art; stick with the master’s actual paintings. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: July 25, 2023
ISBN: 9781605378428
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clavis
Review Posted Online: April 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2023
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...
Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.
The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 21, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Unusual illustrations enhance an engaging, informative narrative.
What can a worm do?
A little worm sets off on a “twirl” to “see the world.” But when it overhears a human referring to it as “just a worm,” its feelings are hurt. The worm asks other critters—including a caterpillar, a spider, a dragonfly—what they can do. After each answer (turn into a butterfly, spin silk thread, fly), the worm becomes more and more dejected because it can’t do any of these things. “Maybe I am just a worm.” But then the worm encounters a ladybug, who eats aphids and other insects, and the worm realizes that it eats dead plants and animals and keeps gardens clean. And though the worm can’t pollinate like the bee, it does create castings (poop) that help plants grow and stay healthy. These abilities, the worm realizes in triumph, are important! The cleverness of this story lies in its lighthearted, effective dissemination of information about various insects as well as earthworms. It doesn’t hurt that the expressive little worm is downright adorable, with emotions that will resonate with anyone who has felt unimportant. The stunning illustrations are done in quilled paper—a centuries-old technique that involves assembling strips of colored paper into shapes—which adds sparkle and originality. A tutorial of how to make a quilled butterfly and a page on earthworm facts round out the book. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Unusual illustrations enhance an engaging, informative narrative. (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 14, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-06-321256-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2022
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