Cute if not particularly memorable.
With the help of several animal friends and a little white girl named Julie, a little bird learns all about dental health.
Charlie the bird watches Julie conscientiously brush her teeth every day, which causes him to wonder how he can brush his. He knows that he doesn’t look after them properly. He asks Goldfish, who tells Charlie that sharks clean their sharp teeth with seaweed. When Charlie tries the same thing with some clover leaves, they just turn his beak green. Little Hamster tells Charlie that beavers use bark. This illustration, in which Charlie and Little Hamster perch on the edge of a bathtub in which a large beaver lolls, exemplifies the book’s playful sense of surrealism. The tub sits surrounded by delicate flowers; a tube of toothpaste rests on the ground. When Charlie tries to clean his teeth on a leg of the kitchen table, Julie’s mom yells at him…and he gets a sore beak. More mishaps ensue before Julie patiently explains that he can’t brush his teeth because he doesn’t have any. But she’ll help him brush his beak; it’ll be the shiniest in town. Zafrilla’s quirky characters help her lesson go down easy. Wimmer’s clever illustrations move readers and Charlie between realistic scenes and fanciful ones. The tale is fairly insubstantial, but the pages are made of water- and tear-resistant Stone Paper, made without trees or bleach.
Cute if not particularly memorable. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-84-16733-30-9
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Cuento de Luz
Review Posted Online: Aug. 20, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Disney art paired with an affirming message makes for a pleasant diversion.
Popular Disney characters guide children toward independence and empowerment.
Childhood involves taking small steps into enchanted lands of self-discovery. These forays lead to challenges but wonders, too. Who better to help kids along this path than celebrated Disney and Pixar icons, idolized courtesy of cinema and TV screens? Children sharing this book with grown-ups will likely be more thrilled at simply spotting and identifying cartoon favorites on these pages than listening to, let alone contemplating, the lengthy, somewhat overblown text, which may go over their heads. After all, very young children won’t yet know what lies ahead—or have figured out what they’ve achieved or will accomplish—when they’re on the brink of exciting life journeys. Recognizing and naming favorites—characters from Frozen, Up, Coco, and Moana—will boost many children’s self-esteem, one of this book’s credos. Some classic characters might be less familiar to today’s younger set, but they’re still powerfully appealing. Many words, set in larger type throughout, are eye-catching. The inimitable Disney illustrative and design style remains captivating and transcends generations. Though many characters from earlier Disney works are White (Alice, Peter, Pinocchio), those from more recent films reflect racial and ethnic diversity, among them Moana, who is Polynesian, and Coco’s Miguel, who is Mexican. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Disney art paired with an affirming message makes for a pleasant diversion. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 4, 2023
ISBN: 9781368077750
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Disney Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
Another solid addition to the beloved series.
Summertime with all its pleasures is coming to an end, and school will soon begin again. What challenges will the new school year bring for Llama?
Told in a by-now-trademark rhyming verse style and accompanied by adorable, cheerful oil paint, colored pencil, and oil pastel illustrations, this story finds Llama taking pleasure in all the fun that summer brings—and hoping it will never be over. “Fishing, hiking, slip and slide. / Backyard camping, picnic time.” But as sure as one season follows another, fall is on its way and school will be starting again. Mamma Llama takes Llama shopping for new school supplies, but the expression on little Llama’s face makes it clear that preparing to return to school is anything but fun. Soon, the first day of school comes, and Llama is ready. There are so many rules: “Be on time. / Don’t push or shove. Stand in line. / Do not shout. Raise your hand.” “Lunch in cubbies. Coats on hooks.” But these are seasoned students, and they take it in stride. All except for one: A young rhino is new and feeling scared. Llama knows just what to do, sharing crayons and showing the newcomer how to glue. Soon the rhino is part of the gang. As is characteristic of the series, this is one more situation familiar to many a young child solved in sweet Llama style. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Another solid addition to the beloved series. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 31, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35244-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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