by Marieke van Ditshuizen ; illustrated by Marieke van Ditshuizen ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2019
An imaginative and playful escapade.
A boy named August can’t help but make a carefree mess.
His mom admonishes him with a smile, “August, don’t act so WILD!” The stripe-shirted boy reasons, “tigers are WILD, so [he] must be a TIGER.” Mom relocates the rambunctious August to the sandbox. Bemoaning his banishment, August wants to yell, but, instead, he lets loose a roar. Surprised, he realizes he has turned into an actual, child-sized tiger. He leaves his backyard and carouses in his new feline freedom, hunting prey (a butterfly; a zebra-striped crosswalk). August finds his friends at the park, but they run away in fear, not recognizing him. Sad and alone, he hears his mom calling. After running home, tiger and mom good-naturedly roughhouse until August, now back in human form, is ready for bed. August declares that he’s done being a tiger, but, since “tomorrow is another day,” he might be a dinosaur! The text, translated from Dutch, is fairly prosaic and not always fluid, but the illustrations serve the straightforward story well. Paintbrush effects keep visuals smooth, as when giving tiger fur its apropos softness, and even the urban elements seem arcadian. The tiny ears and tail that appear as August wishes to be a real tiger are well-placed hints at the change to come—some of the many elements for readers to laugh at and explore. Both August and his mom present white.
An imaginative and playful escapade. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-62371-936-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Crocodile/Interlink
Review Posted Online: July 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
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by Laurie Berkner ; illustrated by Camille Garoche ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 7, 2017
For Berkner’s fans; there are much better books about children visiting imaginative lands.
Berkner’s children’s song gets the picture-book treatment with illustrations from Garoche.
What kid hasn’t made a massive pillow fort and imagined all sorts of adventures? Well, Berkner’s premise is that there is a land where everything is made of pillows, and three lucky children get to visit there. (They appear to be siblings, perhaps a blended family: Mom and one girl are black; Dad, one boy, and one girl are white.) The illustrations transition between depictions of obvious imaginative play in a bedroom to a fantasy world and back again at the end, when the parents peek in at the three asleep. Garoche’s art consists of photos of papercut artwork arranged in dioramas with some Photoshop details. Reminiscent of Michael Garland’s work (though more pastel in color) or that of Elly McKay (though less ethereal), the illustrations are a mixed bag, with layers and hard edges juxtaposed against all the pillows. The king and queen of the song are obviously stand-ins for the parents. Children who know the tune may not sit still for a reading, while those who don’t may wonder at the repeated refrain.
For Berkner’s fans; there are much better books about children visiting imaginative lands. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4814-6467-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2017
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by Julia Donaldson illustrated by Axel Scheffler ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 1999
The action of this rhymed and humorous tale centers upon a mouse who "took a stroll/through the deep dark wood./A fox saw the mouse/and the mouse looked good." The mouse escapes being eaten by telling the fox that he is on his way to meet his friend the gruffalo (a monster of his imagination), whose favorite food is roasted fox. The fox beats a hasty retreat. Similar escapes are in store for an owl and a snake; both hightail it when they learn the particulars: tusks, claws, terrible jaws, eyes orange, tongue black, purple prickles on its back. When the gruffalo suddenly materializes out of the mouse's head and into the forest, the mouse has to think quick, declaring himself inedible as the "scariest creature in the deep dark wood," and inviting the gruffalo to follow him to witness the effect he has on the other creatures. When the gruffalo hears that the mouse's favorite food is gruffalo crumble, he runs away. It's a fairly innocuous tale, with twists that aren't sharp enough and treachery that has no punch. Scheffler's funny scenes prevent the suspense from culminating; all his creatures, predator and prey, are downright lovable. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: June 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-8037-2386-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1999
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