Kindness is always a good thing, no matter how many legs the recipient has.
An arachnid’s visit awakens a young kid’s empathy.
After “a story, a snuggle, and one last sip of water,” the sleepy narrator is ready to drop off when a spider invades the bedroom. Now wide awake, the kid summons their bravery and looks for something to “smash it with.” Finding nothing, the protagonist, who has pale skin and wears straight, dark hair in a pageboy, gives much thought to how to proceed next, including invoking the lyrics of “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider.” The situation calls for strong measures, so they imagine elaborate schemes about how to thwart this eight-legged nemesis. Finally deciding on a simpler strategy, they trap the spider in an overturned glass—and have an epiphany. Peering with open eyes and open heart at their hairy captive, the kid realizes it’s neither huge nor scary, is likely frightened of them, and just wants to return home. Readers will relate to this cute tale; this kid isn’t so much afraid as bugged by the disruption of bedtime and actively takes solo charge to fix things. The energetic illustrations, collages of paint, pastels, and cut paper, are delightful and feature scenes of twinkling nighttime city vistas and artful spreads incorporating some words into the text in various colors, shapes, and typefaces. The backmatter shows how unwelcome critters may be captured and released humanely and safely. (Kind hearts, courage, and a deep breath help; naming said visitors and waving farewell are optional.) (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Kindness is always a good thing, no matter how many legs the recipient has. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Oct. 12, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-75319-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available.
A ghost learns to appreciate his differences.
The little ghost protagonist of this title is unusual. He’s a quilt, not a lightweight sheet like his parents and friends. He dislikes being different despite his mom’s reassurance that his ancestors also had unconventional appearances. Halloween makes the little ghost happy, though. He decides to watch trick-or-treaters by draping over a porch chair—but lands on a porch rail instead. A mom accompanying her daughter picks him up, wraps him around her chilly daughter, and brings him home with them! The family likes his looks and comforting warmth, and the little ghost immediately feels better about himself. As soon as he’s able to, he flies out through the chimney and muses happily that this adventure happened only due to his being a quilt. This odd but gently told story conveys the importance of self-respect and acceptance of one’s uniqueness. The delivery of this positive message has something of a heavy-handed feel and is rushed besides. It also isn’t entirely logical: The protagonist could have been a different type of covering; a blanket, for instance, might have enjoyed an identical experience. The soft, pleasing illustrations’ palette of tans, grays, white, black, some touches of color, and, occasionally, white text against black backgrounds suggest isolation, such as the ghost feels about himself. Most humans, including the trick-or-treating mom and daughter, have beige skin. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-16.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 66.2% of actual size.)
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7352-6447-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
Serve this superbly designed title to all who relish slightly scary stories.
Kids know vegetables can be scary, but rarely are edible roots out to get someone. In this whimsical mock-horror tale, carrots nearly frighten the whiskers off Jasper Rabbit, an interloper at Crackenhopper Field.
Jasper loves carrots, especially those “free for the taking.” He pulls some in the morning, yanks out a few in the afternoon, and comes again at night to rip out more. Reynolds builds delicious suspense with succinct language that allows understatements to be fully exploited in Brown’s hilarious illustrations. The cartoon pictures, executed in pencil and then digitally colored, are in various shades of gray and serve as a perfectly gloomy backdrop for the vegetables’ eerie orange on each page. “Jasper couldn’t get enough carrots … / … until they started following him.” The plot intensifies as Jasper not only begins to hear the veggies nearby, but also begins to see them everywhere. Initially, young readers will wonder if this is all a product of Jasper’s imagination. Was it a few snarling carrots or just some bathing items peeking out from behind the shower curtain? The ending truly satisfies both readers and the book’s characters alike. And a lesson on greed goes down like honey instead of a forkful of spinach.
Serve this superbly designed title to all who relish slightly scary stories. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 21, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0297-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 1, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2012
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