An amusing, original fairy tale that counters greed with gross-out giggles.
Magical rewards become a stinky surprise in this fable about gold and happiness.
King Jasper the Magnificent, who wears a wig and mustache that would impress a Baroque monarch, is immensely proud of his rococo crown, crafted by jeweler Thomas Joy. When the crown is destroyed, the king blames Thomas (who was also, strangely, tasked with guarding it). Banished from both the castle and employment, along with his wife and their two children, Thomas lives on the streets, begging for food. A fairy grants the family a rabbit who, when content, poops gold—but, she warns, “make him sad and the magic will go.” The gold poop brings Thomas riches and fame. He once again becomes a jeweler of renown, fashioning “poopopo” jewelry. But when the family fails to keep the rabbit happy, a smelly comeuppance ensues for the Joys and all the wealthy, jewelry-wearing bigwigs. In this picture book, Rey’s (Angelo’s Christmas Present, 2018) potty humor is sure to appeal, and while the Joys and the king are white, bright cartoon illustrations feature the kingdom’s diverse population. Some children may feel concerned when the Joys are on the street given the way the author drains the color from those images. But the accessible, plain moral—take good care of pets, especially if they poop gold—is clear.
An amusing, original fairy tale that counters greed with gross-out giggles.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: 978-0-9947673-9-4
Page Count: -
Publisher: The Red Sunflower Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 12, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2019
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
Broccoli: No way is James going to eat broccoli. “It’s disgusting,” says James. Well then, James, says his father, let’s consider the alternatives: some wormy dirt, perhaps, some stinky socks, some pre-chewed gum? James reconsiders the broccoli, but—milk? “Blech,” says James. Right, says his father, who needs strong bones? You’ll be great at hide-and-seek, though not so great at baseball and kickball and even tickling the dog’s belly. James takes a mouthful. So it goes through lumpy oatmeal, mushroom lasagna and slimy eggs, with James’ father parrying his son’s every picky thrust. And it is fun, because the father’s retorts are so outlandish: the lasagna-making troll in the basement who will be sent back to the rat circus, there to endure the rodent’s vicious bites; the uneaten oatmeal that will grow and grow and probably devour the dog that the boy won’t be able to tickle any longer since his bones are so rubbery. Schneider’s watercolors catch the mood of gentle ribbing, the looks of bewilderment and surrender and the deadpanned malarkey. It all makes James’ father’s last urging—“I was just going to say that you might like them if you tried them”—wholly fresh and unexpected advice. (Early reader. 5-9)
Pub Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-547-14956-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2011
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