Dubuc’s delightful domestic dramas will entertain children and adults alike.
One day’s worth of activities—and some special events—in the lives of various anthropomorphized animals sharing an apartment building are described and displayed in this French-Canadian import.
Each double-page spread, beginning with the cover, shows a cutaway view of the four-story building. Two to four sentences per view offer dialogue and descriptions, with much of the straightforward text centering on the Rabbit family. Several parallel narratives are briefly referred to though they occur primarily in the illustrations. Friends and family celebrate Little Rabbit’s birthday; the Cat family moves in; Mr. Bear is sick in bed; the Fox family welcomes a new member; Little Hedgehog eagerly awaits his father’s return; the “rascally Mouse triplets” raise havoc; an owl attempts to get a good day’s rest; and a mischievous little ghost takes an unexpected trip to the first floor before returning to the dark attic. In addition, several fairy-tale characters make cameo appearances, and a bird family has their own little adventure, providing even more reasons to pore over the pictures. Pastel colors and a relatively limited palette give the detailed illustrations, reminiscent of Allan Ahlberg’s and Richard Scarry’s, a light touch and keep them from feeling too busy. The cozy setting and the characters’ smiling faces and round red cheeks help to set the cheerful tone and make the friendly coexistence of predators and prey believable. (This book was reviewed digitally with 14-by-22-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)
Dubuc’s delightful domestic dramas will entertain children and adults alike. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5253-0490-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
A heartwarming reminder to embrace change.
A dog who belongs to an expecting couple adjusts to home life as a new baby arrives.
Pepita, the family pet, is beloved and still so little they call her Bebita (baby girl). But Pepita’s world is changing as her Mami and Papi await the arrival of a baby. Pepita is used to being spoiled “with treats and tummy rubs and my favorite fluffy pillow….But lately, things have been changing.” As the home gets new additions like a crib and gifts from the grandparents, Pepita feels left out, no longer the center of attention. Once the baby arrives, Pepita tries to adjust but is kept up at night by crying and doesn’t get playtime like before. But Pepita’s sweetness shines through as she finds ways to help out and bond with the new baby. “I feel so proud to be the big sister,” she concludes. The book is sprinkled with Spanish phrases, reflecting that Pepita is part of a Latine household; readers unfamiliar with Spanish will find the glossary helpful. Illustrations are warm and cuddly throughout, and the story is highly relatable; soon-to-be big siblings fretting over a new arrival will find it especially comforting. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A heartwarming reminder to embrace change. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2023
ISBN: 9780593566985
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
While the slapstick may appeal to readers, sadly, this book is so confused and arbitrary, most of the humor falls flat.
A beleaguered giraffe tries to communicate that he isn’t a chair.
Poor Giraffe: on his first day in the jungle he’s seen as a chair by the other animals. Of course, giraffes aren’t actually found in jungles, and there’s little evidence of a jungle in the illustrations. While Giraffe does look a little like a chair, the fact that he has eyes and a mouth and nose and other features that distinguish the other animals from their seats makes it hard to understand why he is mistaken for a chair. But it’s all about the gag. Burach uses action-filled spreads to indicate a series of incidents that literally impede Giraffe’s speech, but when he is finally able to speak up for himself, he chooses instead to make a fake chair that looks like him. When that doesn’t work, he’s taken home by a dull-witted human who also uses him for a chair. Upon escaping, he is used as a chair by a lion waiting for dinner. When Giraffe finally decides to speak up and clear up the misunderstanding, he saves his own skin by scaring the lion, who thinks he’s a talking chair. The childlike drawings emphasize googly eyes, silly grins, a multitude of sound effects in emphatic display type, and lots of physical humor.
While the slapstick may appeal to readers, sadly, this book is so confused and arbitrary, most of the humor falls flat. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-06-236016-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2016
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