Tippy finds a new home, but his sentimental tale doesn’t cover any new territory in the crowded field of dog-adoption...
A boisterous, homeless dog finds a permanent home with the foster family assigned to care for him temporarily.
Tippy is called a terrier in the story, possibly a mix of terrier breeds or a smooth-coated fox terrier. He is transported along with many other dogs to a new location for potential adoption and “forever homes.” A white couple named Nice Woman and Nice Man take Tippy home as a temporary foster placement, introducing him to their own dog and cat. Nice Woman and Nice Man give rambunctious Tippy lots of attention and teach him basic obedience, and gradually he learns how to get along and behave. The couple realizes that Tippy has adjusted to his new home so well that they decide to keep him permanently. The text, based on a true story in the author’s life, is told in an old-fashioned style that includes Tippy’s thoughts, lots of words in capital letters for emphasis, and too many exclamation marks. The story’s saccharine slant includes Tippy’s exuberant pronouncements of joy at his permanent adoption, including a “happy tear” sliding down his nose. The illustrations include lots of humorous mischief in altercations among the two dogs and the cat, and multiple views of Tippy’s changing expressions help establish his personality. The human characters are shown primarily from the shoulders down and include children of color in one illustration.
Tippy finds a new home, but his sentimental tale doesn’t cover any new territory in the crowded field of dog-adoption stories. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-942155-20-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peter E. Randall
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2019
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
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
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