THE LITTLE SNOWPLOW

Name: THE LITTLE SNOWPLOW
Author: Lora Koehler
ISBN: 978-0-7636-7074-0

by Lora Koehler ; illustrated by Jake Parker ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 13, 2015

There’s always room for another well-told yarn espousing the themes of small-is-beautiful, hard work pays off, and, of...

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Despite skepticism from bigger vehicles, the small, new-kid-on-the-block snowplow works to stay fit, sure that he will be useful one day soon.

“On the Mighty Mountain Road Crew, the trucks came in one size: BIG. That is, until a new snowplow joined the crew. ‘You’re such a little snowplow,’ the big trucks said. ‘Leave the heavy lifting to us.’ And off they roared.” So begins the tale, accompanied by an appealing, full-color illustration of a shyly smiling little snowplow looking up at an array of larger trucks, all of them sporting comical, doubtful facial expressions. In spring, summer, and fall, the little snowplow performs tasks secondary to those of the big trucks, as in creating leaf piles when the bigger trucks mound “mountains of salt and sand.” His early-winter training includes such whimsical exercise as raising and lowering his plow: “Ten times. Fast!” His strength, speed—and, yes, his small size—eventually allow him to be a snowstorm hero. Will, the human road-crew foreman and snowplow driver, enters the story at an appropriate time, taking the little snowplow out for his inaugural blizzard. There is a pleasing combination of Little Toot and The Little Engine That Could to the book, in both text and illustrations. Droll humor and excellent layout add to the fun.

There’s always room for another well-told yarn espousing the themes of small-is-beautiful, hard work pays off, and, of course, “I think I can.” (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-7636-7074-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Candlewick

Review Posted Online: June 9, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

- BOOK REVIEW
THE LITTLE SNOWPLOW WISHES FOR SNOW
by Lora Koehler ; illustrated by Jake Parker

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LITTLE RED SLEIGH

by Erin Guendelsberger ; illustrated by Elizaveta Tretyakova ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2020

Sadly, the storytelling runs aground.

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A little red sleigh has big Christmas dreams.

Although the detailed, full-color art doesn’t anthropomorphize the protagonist (which readers will likely identify as a sled and not a sleigh), a close third-person text affords the object thoughts and feelings while assigning feminine pronouns. “She longed to become Santa’s big red sleigh,” reads an early line establishing the sleigh’s motivation to leave her Christmas-shop home for the North Pole. Other toys discourage her, but she perseveres despite creeping self-doubt. A train and truck help the sleigh along, and when she wishes she were big, fast, and powerful like them, they offer encouragement and counsel patience. When a storm descends after the sleigh strikes out on her own, an unnamed girl playing in the snow brings her to a group of children who all take turns riding the sleigh down a hill. When the girl brings her home, the sleigh is crestfallen she didn’t reach the North Pole. A convoluted happily-ever-after ending shows a note from Santa that thanks the sleigh for giving children joy and invites her to the North Pole next year. “At last she understood what she was meant to do. She would build her life up spreading joy, one child at a time.” Will she leave the girl’s house to be gifted to other children? Will she stay and somehow also reach ever more children? Readers will be left wondering. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 31.8% of actual size.)

Sadly, the storytelling runs aground. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-72822-355-1

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland

Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2020

Categories:

CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE ORANGE PUMPKIN
by Erin Guendelsberger ; illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE PURPLE TRACTOR
by Erin Guendelsberger ; illustrated by Annelouise Mahoney

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE YELLOW BUS
by Erin Guendelsberger ; illustrated by Suzie Mason

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IT'S NOT EASY BEING A GHOST

From the It's Not Easy Being series

by Marilyn Sadler ; illustrated by Stephanie Laberis ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 13, 2024

Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.

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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)