A tongue-in-cheek fractured fairy tale for those who like a little naughty with their nice.
Carey and Blanco look at a favorite fairy tale from a new angle.
Everyone knows about Cinderella’s evil stepmother and two nasty stepsisters, but there is actually a third stepsister, and the story has it all wrong: while there is one girl who does all the work while the rest laze about, it isn’t Cinderella. It’s Gertie, whose niceness and bright smile are the opposite of what her family, the Uglys, wants. So, when the invitation to the ball arrives, of course they can’t let her go without making her take lessons in villainy first from some of the best. But Gertie can’t stand by and let the Wicked Queen (from “Snow White”) and the Worst Witch (“Hansel and Gretel”) do their stuff, so off to the big bad Wolf she goes for more tutoring. In several twists readers won’t see coming, Gertie and the Wolf team up and meet the Fairy Godmother, Cinderella gets taught a lesson in manners, and the Wolf—well, let’s just say she gets what she wanted all along. The muted palette and look of Blanco’s digital illustrations give them a retro feel, and the whole vibe is somewhat French—from the street of row houses where the family lives to the beret jauntily perched on Gertie’s head.
A tongue-in-cheek fractured fairy tale for those who like a little naughty with their nice. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7636-8005-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2015
A lesson that never grows old, enacted with verve by two favorite friends
Gerald the elephant learns a truth familiar to every preschooler—heck, every human: “Waiting is not easy!”
When Piggie cartwheels up to Gerald announcing that she has a surprise for him, Gerald is less than pleased to learn that the “surprise is a surprise.” Gerald pumps Piggie for information (it’s big, it’s pretty, and they can share it), but Piggie holds fast on this basic principle: Gerald will have to wait. Gerald lets out an almighty “GROAN!” Variations on this basic exchange occur throughout the day; Gerald pleads, Piggie insists they must wait; Gerald groans. As the day turns to twilight (signaled by the backgrounds that darken from mauve to gray to charcoal), Gerald gets grumpy. “WE HAVE WASTED THE WHOLE DAY!…And for WHAT!?” Piggie then gestures up to the Milky Way, which an awed Gerald acknowledges “was worth the wait.” Willems relies even more than usual on the slightest of changes in posture, layout and typography, as two waiting figures can’t help but be pretty static. At one point, Piggie assumes the lotus position, infuriating Gerald. Most amusingly, Gerald’s elephantine groans assume weighty physicality in spread-filling speech bubbles that knock Piggie to the ground. And the spectacular, photo-collaged images of the Milky Way that dwarf the two friends makes it clear that it was indeed worth the wait.
A lesson that never grows old, enacted with verve by two favorite friends . (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4231-9957-1
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2014
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind.
The cool beans again step up to do a timorous fellow legume a fava…this time at the pool.
Will a rash decision to tackle the multistory super-slide lead to another embarrassing watery fail for our shy protagonist? Nope, for up the stairs right behind comes a trio of cool beans, each a different type and color, all clad in nothing but dark shades. They make an offer: “It’s not as scary if you go with friends!” As the knobby nerd explains once the thrilling ride down is done, “They all realized that I just needed some encouragement and support.” Just to make sure that both cool and uncool readers get the message, the narrator lets us know that “there are plenty of kind folks who have my back. They’re always there when I need them.” The beany bonhomie doesn’t end at the bottom of the slide, with all gliding down to the shallow end of the pool (“3 INCHES. NO DIVING”) for a splashy finale. This latest early reader starring characters from John and Oswald’s immensely popular Food Group series will be a hit with fans. Fun accessories, such as a bean who rocks pink cat-eye frames, add some pizzazz to the chromatically and somatotypically varied cast.
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind. (Easy reader. 5-7)Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9780063329560
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
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