Young foodies will enjoy learning about a beloved dish from America’s northern neighbor.
A celebration of one of Canada’s best-known dishes.
Zoey and Dad anticipate their shared birthday tomorrow, July 1—also Canada Day, marked by fireworks. Best of all, Zoey, who’s turning 5, will get to eat poutine, Dad’s specialty. Plus, several of her favorite relatives are coming. Next day, Zoey helps Dad cook, while Mom greets everyone. Zoey wonders why the dining room table’s loaded with poutine brought by the other family members. Her Italian Nona tells her they decided to hold a poutine contest, and Zoey will be the judge. The relatives remind Zoey where their versions came from and what special ingredients they added to the traditional ones—fries, gravy, and cheese curds. Zoey likes all the varieties, especially Nona’s. Afterward, Zoey declares everyone the winner. That night, though, as she and Dad enjoy the fireworks, she says she’ll always love his version best. Though well told, this tale centered on poutine and its many culinary twists may have limited appeal outside Canada. Still, it’s a warm family tale that shines a respectful spotlight on Canada’s culture and people. The colorful, lively illustrations feature a racially and ethnically diverse blend of family members; red-haired Zoey and her parents present white.
Young foodies will enjoy learning about a beloved dish from America’s northern neighbor. (fun facts about poutine, poutine recipe) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: March 15, 2024
ISBN: 9781534113169
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 16, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2024
Sugary uplift, shrink-wrapped for the masses.
An elusive new quarry leads the How To Catch… kids on a merry chase through a natural history museum.
Taking at least a step away from the “hunters versus prey” vibe of previous entries in the popular series, the racially diverse group of young visitors dashes through various museum halls in pursuit of the eponymous dino—whose quest to “spread kindness and joy ’round the world” takes the form of a mildly tumultuous museum tour. In most of Elkerton’s overly sweet, color-saturated scenes, only portions of the Loveosaurus, who is purple and covered with pink hearts, are visible behind exhibits or lumbering off the page. But the children find small enticements left behind, from craft supplies to make cards for endangered species to pictures of smiley faces, candy heart–style personal notes (“You Rock!” “Give Hugs”), and, in the hall of medieval arms and armor, a sign urging them to “Be Honest Be Kind.” The somewhat heavy-handed lesson comes through loud and clear. “There’s a message, he wants us to think,” hints Walstead to clue in more obtuse readers…and concluding scenes of smiling people young and otherwise exchanging hugs and knuckle bumps, holding doors for a wheelchair rider, and dancing through clouds of sparkles indicate that they, at least, have gotten it. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Sugary uplift, shrink-wrapped for the masses. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
ISBN: 9781728268781
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Jan. 17, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A nicely inventive little morality “tail” for newly independent readers.
Two little rats decide to show the world how tough they are, with unpredictable results.
Louie and Ralphie Ratso want to be just like their single dad, Big Lou: tough! They know that “tough” means doing mean things to other animals, like stealing Chad Badgerton’s hat. Chad Badgerton is a big badger, so taking that hat from him proves that Louie and Ralphie are just as tough as they want to be. However, it turns out that Louie and Ralphie have just done a good deed instead of a bad one: Chad Badgerton had taken that hat from little Tiny Crawley, a mouse, so when Tiny reclaims it, they are celebrated for goodness rather than toughness. Sadly, every attempt Louie and Ralphie make at doing mean things somehow turns nice. What’s a little boy rat supposed to do to be tough? Plus, they worry about what their dad will say when he finds out how good they’ve been. But wait! Maybe their dad has some other ideas? LaReau keeps the action high and completely appropriate for readers embarking on chapter books. Each of the first six chapters features a new, failed attempt by Louie and Ralphie to be mean, and the final, seventh chapter resolves everything nicely. The humor springs from their foiled efforts and their reactions to their failures. Myers’ sprightly grayscale drawings capture action and characters and add humorous details, such as the Ratsos’ “unwelcome” mat.
A nicely inventive little morality “tail” for newly independent readers. (Fiction. 5-8)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-7636-7636-0
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2016
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