“Sniffle snuffle snork!” Giggle!
The medieval village of Handkerchief has a loud and drippy problem.
The constant sound of sneezing, coughing, and sniffling from Castle Gesundheit is keeping the villagers awake. No one can sleep; everyone has dark circles. They’ve tried everything: pillows over their ears, ears plugged with fingers, even books over their ears. Most Handkerchiefians are scared to approach the castle, but little Fiona’s had enough. No one will lower the drawbridge for her, so she needs to get creative (nothing works until she finds a cat door to wriggle through). Inside, she finds plenty of cats, but, following the sound of the ahhh-choos, only one human. Baron Von Sneeze has no one to take care of him—everyone’s left because of the noise. Fiona asks if he eats well and keeps warm and tries to get enough sleep…yes, yes, yes. She asks if he has seen a doctor. He’s seen the best (and a witch and a wizard!). Based on her investigation and the feline population, Fiona draws the obvious conclusion. But the cats can’t go! The Von Sneezes have kept cats for generations…so Fiona comes up with an innovative plan that works for everyone. Fearing’s silly, sniffling tale might have a simple throughline, but the comical cartoon illustrations of the stouthearted girl and bewigged baron layer the laughs in the details—many of which are just cats being cats. Both Fiona and the baron present White; among the citizenry of Handkerchief are a few people of color.
“Sniffle snuffle snork!” Giggle! (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5362-1412-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An ideal introduction to this familiar waterfowl—readers will enjoy diving right in.
Mallard ducks catch the attention of an observant young narrator. Join in on her day’s travels to learn a lot about these quacking creatures.
Quacks appear in graduated type from large to small to begin this informational gem. The daily activities of a young girl propel the easy-flowing language full of ducky details. Perfectly placed additional facts in smaller and similar-in-tone text are included on each spread. These seamless complements serve to explain unfamiliar terms such as “preening,” “dabbling” and “upending.” While Davies’ text gently informs, Rubbino’s mixed-media illustrations, done in a subdued palette of watery greens, grays and browns, truly impress. Mama ducks, drakes and ducklings alike hold the focus as they nest, search for food, swim, splash and sleep. The loose and childlike pictures capture essential details: the “secret patch of blue on each wing” and the “cute little curl on their tails.” At the end of the day (and book), readers find “The bridge is quiet, and there’s just the sound of rushing water and the stillness of the night.” But the page turn reveals another morning of “ducks—just ducks, down on the river that flows through the town.”
An ideal introduction to this familiar waterfowl—readers will enjoy diving right in. (index, note) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-7636-5936-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Feb. 4, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2012
An expertly crafted, soulful, and humorous work that tenderly explores identity, culture, and the bond between father and...
Thunder Boy Smith Jr. hates his name.
The Native American boy is named after his father, whose nickname is Big Thunder. Thunder Boy Jr. says his nickname, Little Thunder, makes him "sound like a burp or a fart." Little Thunder loves his dad, but he longs for a name that celebrates something special about him alone. He muses, “I love playing in the dirt, so maybe my name should be Mud in His Ears.…I love powwow dancing. I’m a grass dancer. So maybe my name should be Drums, Drums, and More Drums!” Little Thunder wonders how he can express these feelings to his towering father. However, he need not worry. Big Thunder knows that the time has come for his son to receive a new name, one as vibrant as his blossoming personality. Morales’ animated mixed-media illustrations, reminiscent of her Pura Belpré Award–winning work in Niño Wrestles the World (2013), masterfully use color and perspective to help readers see the world from Little Thunder’s point of view. His admiration of his dad is manifest in depictions of Big Thunder as a gentle giant of a man. The otherwise-muted palette bursts with color as Thunder Boy Jr. proudly enumerates the unique qualities and experiences that could inspire his new name.
An expertly crafted, soulful, and humorous work that tenderly explores identity, culture, and the bond between father and son. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 10, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-316-01372-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 15, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
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