CINDERELLA'S STEPSISTER AND THE BIG BAD WOLF

bookshelf

CINDERELLA'S STEPSISTER AND THE BIG BAD WOLF

Name: CINDERELLA'S STEPSISTER AND THE BIG BAD WOLF
Author: Lorraine Carey
ISBN: 978-0-7636-8005-3

by Lorraine Carey ; illustrated by Migy Blanco ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 8, 2015

A tongue-in-cheek fractured fairy tale for those who like a little naughty with their nice.

bookshelf

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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

bookshelf

BEING YOU

by Alexs D. Pate ; illustrated by Soud ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2018

Heartfelt content for children who need to feel seen.

bookshelf

Words addressed to children aimed at truth-telling, encouraging, and inspiring are accompanied by pictures of children of color going about their days.

“This story is about you,” the narrator opens, as a black boy looks up toward readers, a listening expression on his face. A multiracial group of children romp in a playground to encouraging words: “you are… / a dancer / a singer / in charge of the game.” Then comes a warning about the “whispers” out in the world that “tell you who you are / But only you and love decide.” There is advice about what to do when you “think there is nowhere safe”: “Watch a bird soar / and think, / Me too.” It asks readers to wonder: “If there was a sign on your chest / what would it say?” Children argue and show frustration and anger for reasons unclear to readers, then they hold up signs about themselves, such as “I am powerful” and “I am talented.” A girl looks hurt, and a boy looks “tough” until someone finds them “sitting there wondering / when the sky will blue.” While the words are general, the pictures specify a teacher, who is brown-skinned with straight black hair, as one who “can see you.” While young readers may find the wording unusual, even obscure in places, the nurturing message will not be lost.

Heartfelt content for children who need to feel seen. (Picture book. 5-8)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-68446-021-2

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Capstone Young Readers

Review Posted Online: Aug. 13, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

bookshelf

SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A FOX

by Danielle Daniel ; illustrated by Danielle Daniel ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 11, 2015

This book will fascinate children expanding their horizons and learning about other cultures (or, in the case of Anishinaabe...

bookshelf

An introduction to the Anishinaabe tradition of totem animals.

In the tradition of the Anishinaabe people of Canada, everyone belongs to an animal clan or totem. This totem animal symbolizes the skills that each member of the clan must learn to serve their tribe. In two-page spreads, Métis artist Daniel introduces children to 12 totem animals, such as a moose, a rabbit, a raven, and a crow. One page shows a child wearing a mask representing a totem animal, while on the opposing page, a brief first-person narration explains that totem’s attributes. The playful acrylic-on-canvas illustrations have an earthy, textural feel where the surface shows through the paint. The text is child-friendly, imaginative, and short—really four lines of free verse rather than prose text. At the end of the book, Daniel has included a list of the animals and their meanings, which is helpful, as the meanings of the animals are not always obvious in each little poem. For example, the butterfly, which stands for vulnerability, is described thus: “Sometimes I feel like a butterfly, / delicate and free. / I spread my wings open / and flutter from flower to leaf.”

This book will fascinate children expanding their horizons and learning about other cultures (or, in the case of Anishinaabe kids, their own). (author’s note) (Picture book. 5-8)