A winning combination of words and pictures for beginning readers and listeners.
The close friendship of Mouse and Chipmunk is temporarily tested by the appearance of one large, attractive acorn.
Before the title page appears, the two cartoonish, furry mammals are rushing about, playing tag and hide-and-seek against a white page. They have swiftly drawn, similarly sized and shaped bodies, with expressive faces. Both creatures are immediately drawn to what they perceive to be “A big, beautiful Nut.” A conversation—presented in speech balloons of gray for Mouse and ochre for Chipmunk—moves from each politely offering the Nut to the other to Mouse admitting, “Well, I guess I did see it first,” to Chipmunk taking it. Children will relate to Mouse’s feelings of hurt and envy as he watches Chipmunk spend time exclusively with the Nut. Readerly concern is soon replaced by giggles as both animals devise ways to trick each other out of Nut possession. An especially funny spread shows Chipmunk wearing a ridiculous disguise that just barely fools Mouse. The climax is a double-page spread with both creatures glaring at each other, hands on hips, under the huge lettering: “THE NUT IS MINE!” But maybe not. After the Nut is reclaimed by its rightful owner, Mouse and Chipmunk exchange speech-balloon apologies before playing together with a third object, lesson learned.
A winning combination of words and pictures for beginning readers and listeners. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-101-94037-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say.
A dog-loving child encourages a less-than-enthusiastic younger one to imagine they’re both canines.
From the first declaration—“I’d be a big dog! And you’d be a little one!”—readers know who’s calling the shots. Initially, the protagonists cavort off the page and through the neighborhood together, performing doggy capers such as tail wagging, stick carrying, and dirt digging. But by the time they encounter a multitude of like-minded creatures at the dog park, the disgruntled small pup is exhibiting out-and-out rebellion: “Being a dog is YOUR idea! Sometimes I HAVE IDEAS TOO!” The narrative wraps up with the younger child pretending to be a different animal entirely—cleverly foreshadowed through subtle details in the illustrations. Even the endpapers—lively silhouettes of dogs in the beginning and many different animals in closing—extend the theme to suggest the imaginative possibilities of pretend play. Cheerful, lightly hued colors fit the whimsical mood, while expressive body language allows the art to tell the story with a minimum of words. Ending on a surprising note, with a sweet compromise between the two main characters, the tale gives both kids the freedom to embrace their own preferences and styles—while still enjoying their game.
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9780316581721
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
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