A clever, nicely illustrated tale about an anxious kid.
A child becomes frightened by his active imagination in this picture book.
After being tucked into bed, pale-skinned Frankie begins to hear scary noises and tries to escape the terrifying possibilities. As he attempts to flee a “screeech” he thinks is emanating from a robot, Frankie runs downstairs, where he faces a “scraping, scratching” dinosaur and a “wailing, flailing” sea creature. On his way to the basement, he encounters what sounds “like a moleman.” Now, “with his options gone, what is Frankie to do?” Frankie runs into his mom’s room; the accompanying illustration depicts the noisy creatures trailing behind him. After telling her all he has heard, Frankie’s mom says that “imagination can be a slippery slope” and shows the boy where the noises actually originated. For example, the “scrapes and scratches” came from the ice machine, not a dinosaur. She encourages Frankie to turn his worries into creativity, explaining that “the inventions you hear, began in someone’s head just like your fears.” Frankie is shown embracing the creatures, who now sport friendly faces. Franklin delivers an innovative interpretation of a child grappling with his wild imagination. The author’s artistic images are integral to the text. They often portray Frankie escaping gigantic creatures and emphasize key words, like the onomatopoeia in the story. Offset by dark backgrounds, the bold, cartoonlike drawings are striking, with a somewhat surrealistic, glowing quality that youngsters will appreciate.
A clever, nicely illustrated tale about an anxious kid.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-944201-22-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Building Block Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 16, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
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