Readers may wonder if it’s meant to be parody.
Three misbehaving young visitors give Macca the alpaca hairy conniptions.
The storyline is best regarded as a vehicle for scenes of big-eyed, dainty-hoofed super cuties and a narrative so choked with trite and forced rhymes that it’s hard to read with a straight face. The bully-beating woolly introduced in Macca the Alpaca (2020) initially welcomes a visit from two nieces and a nephew (“That guy is called Drew. / He’s Macca’s nephew!”). However, they play so wildly that the house is soon a wreck, and they display terrible table manners to boot: “They flicked all their peas / and scoffed down candies.” Confectionery-bright backgrounds set off equally candy-colored crias surrounded by similarly hued rubble. No sooner does “Uncle Mac / completely blow his stack,” however, than all three repentantly rush off to clean everything up and then fall asleep in an angelic little pile—the titular stack. Sure, young readers will definitely buy that as viable behavior-modeling. On the other hand, the snortworthy verse, sweet pastel colors, and, especially, all those huge, round eyes with their long lashes may beguile even dyed-in-the-wool cynics. For a few moments, at least, and then they will brush their teeth. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9.9-by-19-inch double-page spreads viewed at 60% of actual size.)
Readers may wonder if it’s meant to be parody. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-338-71622-1
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say.
A dog-loving child encourages a less-than-enthusiastic younger one to imagine they’re both canines.
From the first declaration—“I’d be a big dog! And you’d be a little one!”—readers know who’s calling the shots. Initially, the protagonists cavort off the page and through the neighborhood together, performing doggy capers such as tail wagging, stick carrying, and dirt digging. But by the time they encounter a multitude of like-minded creatures at the dog park, the disgruntled small pup is exhibiting out-and-out rebellion: “Being a dog is YOUR idea! Sometimes I HAVE IDEAS TOO!” The narrative wraps up with the younger child pretending to be a different animal entirely—cleverly foreshadowed through subtle details in the illustrations. Even the endpapers—lively silhouettes of dogs in the beginning and many different animals in closing—extend the theme to suggest the imaginative possibilities of pretend play. Cheerful, lightly hued colors fit the whimsical mood, while expressive body language allows the art to tell the story with a minimum of words. Ending on a surprising note, with a sweet compromise between the two main characters, the tale gives both kids the freedom to embrace their own preferences and styles—while still enjoying their game.
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9780316581721
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
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