Young readers learn about the most valuable treasure in Schustrin’s picture book.
The narrator explains that somewhere on Earth “exists a secret treasure / That is available to all.” Equipped with binoculars and magnifying glasses, a diverse group of kids with varying skin tones explores a diamond mine, bodies of water, and other places, looking for the mysterious treasure. The narrator offers clues about it, such as how it’s “more valuable than gold” and the “wildest dreams” of “1000 sleeping queens,” shown slumbering in bedazzled crowns. As the kids examine colorful jewels with magnifying glasses and scope out mountains with binoculars, the narrator explains that there’s “one sure thing to do” if one wants to locate the treasure: “Look in the mirror / That secret treasure is YOU!” This lively tale highlights the importance of positive self-esteem while reminding readers that all human beings are precious and worthy. Lucci’s cartoonlike, multihued illustrations feature busy scenes with sparkly diamonds; saturated, gradient skies; and cheerful critters. Some scenes effectively literalize the narration; for example, after the kids visit a bank, the text explains that the secret treasure makes “the world’s biggest banks / With all the cash in their stash” seem worthless; the image shows a truck unloading money onto a trash pile.
A simple, playful story underscoring the importance of valuing oneself and others.Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2022
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Ava Bear Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 1, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Categories: CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES
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Little Blue Truck feels, well, blue when he delivers valentine after valentine but receives nary a one.
His bed overflowing with cards, Blue sets out to deliver a yellow card with purple polka dots and a shiny purple heart to Hen, one with a shiny fuchsia heart to Pig, a big, shiny, red heart-shaped card to Horse, and so on. With each delivery there is an exchange of Beeps from Blue and the appropriate animal sounds from his friends, Blue’s Beeps always set in blue and the animal’s vocalization in a color that matches the card it receives. But as Blue heads home, his deliveries complete, his headlight eyes are sad and his front bumper droops ever so slightly. Blue is therefore surprised (but readers may not be) when he pulls into his garage to be greeted by all his friends with a shiny blue valentine just for him. In this, Blue’s seventh outing, it’s not just the sturdy protagonist that seems to be wilting. Schertle’s verse, usually reliable, stumbles more than once; stanzas such as “But Valentine’s Day / didn’t seem much fun / when he didn’t get cards / from anyone” will cause hitches during read-alouds. The illustrations, done by Joseph in the style of original series collaborator Jill McElmurry, are pleasant enough, but his compositions often feel stiff and forced.
Little Blue Truck keeps on truckin’—but not without some backfires. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: Dec. 8, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-358-27244-1
Page Count: 20
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2021
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The sturdy Little Blue Truck is back for his third adventure, this time delivering Christmas trees to his band of animal pals.
The truck is decked out for the season with a Christmas wreath that suggests a nose between headlights acting as eyeballs. Little Blue loads up with trees at Toad’s Trees, where five trees are marked with numbered tags. These five trees are counted and arithmetically manipulated in various ways throughout the rhyming story as they are dropped off one by one to Little Blue’s friends. The final tree is reserved for the truck’s own use at his garage home, where he is welcomed back by the tree salestoad in a neatly circular fashion. The last tree is already decorated, and Little Blue gets a surprise along with readers, as tiny lights embedded in the illustrations sparkle for a few seconds when the last page is turned. Though it’s a gimmick, it’s a pleasant surprise, and it fits with the retro atmosphere of the snowy country scenes. The short, rhyming text is accented with colored highlights, red for the animal sounds and bright green for the numerical words in the Christmas-tree countdown.
Little Blue’s fans will enjoy the animal sounds and counting opportunities, but it’s the sparkling lights on the truck’s own tree that will put a twinkle in a toddler’s eyes. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-544-32041-3
Page Count: 24
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 12, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2014
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