An uplifting variation of the Nativity story.
Leah, the daughter of an innkeeper, leaves the busy Bethlehem market and notices a silver star above her home; might the shining beacon herald something wonderful?
Roman emperor Augustus has called for a census of the entire Roman world, and many people crowd the streets of Bethlehem in order to be counted. Mesmerized by the bright star, Leah accidentally bumps into the donkey of two pilgrims. The man, Joseph, and his pregnant wife, Mary, are in need of a place to safely deliver their baby. When Leah’s father notices the woman’s condition, he offers the couple the use of his stable and calls for a neighbor to help Mary. After the baby is born, Leah marvels at the shepherds who visit the child claiming that angels told them he was their long-awaited king and at scholars (not magi) who travel a great distance to present the infant with gifts fit for a king. Though Leah does not factor into the biblical account of the Nativity, readers familiar with the story will find its integrity intact and Leah an accessible, credible witness. The painterly illustrations are presented in cool, vivid colors, depicting the characters with olive skin and dark hair. The characters' faces are expressive, especially the final image of Leah with the baby Jesus. This book pairs well with Katherine Paterson and Lisa Aisato’s The Night of His Birth (2019).
An uplifting variation of the Nativity story. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-68464-224-3
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Kane Miller
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2021
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
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Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
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