With a peculiar ending, shaky plot, and passive art, this book may appeal to hard-core dog lovers, but it will likely leave...
A bored, imaginative dog makes his dreams a reality.
Figgy loves his human owner, George Mustardo. But sometimes George leaves for long stretches of time. A pattern develops: the very bored Figgy waits, eats something he shouldn’t, and then dreams about something directly related to the item ingested. When Figgy awakens, he makes his dreams come true. Despite this obvious intentionality, Figgy’s dreams (himself as a rock star, pizza maker, race car driver) feel arbitrary. And while a canine protagonist who thinks like a human requires a suspension of disbelief, the fact that Figgy is sometimes very doggish (eating paper) and other times very human (rock-’n’-rolling) is strange—as are the pop-culture references that young children will most likely miss. Spreads depicting Figgy’s life, dreams, and dreams-come-true lack dynamic, while the few pages in which he’s bored—three separate illustrations per spread with hilariously evident emotion—are the most engaging. And though Figgy has personality, the other animals depicted are cute but disappointingly flat. The clunky ending, during which Figgy decides to give himself away while his family (all white), who thinks he’s unwell, provides him with a companion rather than a trip to the vet or more attention, doesn’t make much sense.
With a peculiar ending, shaky plot, and passive art, this book may appeal to hard-core dog lovers, but it will likely leave general readers befuddled. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 7, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-228582-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: April 12, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2016
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children.
Interior decorator and TV personality Gaines invites readers to open their eyes and exercise their imaginations.
There’s a world to be explored out there—and only children can really take part. What does “looking for wonder” entail? Slowing down and looking up, around, and everywhere. At the outset, a group of eager, racially diverse young friends—including one who uses a wheelchair—are fully prepared for a grand adventure. They offer tips about how and where to look: Why, there’s a “grand parade” of marching ants! And, these kids add, perspective is key. A rainy day might signal gloom to some, but to those filled with wonder, showers bring “magic puddles for play”; a forest is “an enchanted world,” the ocean conceals “a spectacular city,” and the night sky boasts “extraordinary sights.” The takeaway: “Wonder is never in short supply.” It’s a robust, empowering message, as is the exhortation to “keep your mind open, and let curiosity guide the way.” Youngsters are also advised to share their discoveries. The upbeat narrative is delivered in clunky verse, but the colorful cartoonish illustrations brimming with activity and good cheer (including some adorable anthropomorphized animals in the backgrounds) make up for the textual lapses and should motivate readers to embark on their own “wonder explorations.”
Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2025
ISBN: 9781400247417
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tommy Nelson
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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