Readers will want to head out to discover a collection of their own.
What’s a fox kit to do when show and tell is all about collections and he doesn’t have one?
Poor Lawrence freezes when his teacher makes the announcement. His animal classmates are giddy with excitement and quickly chime in with what they will bring: playing cards, coins, ribbons, combs (the sheep’s collection!), and marbles. The fox’s body language, sad face, and silence say it all when they ask him what he will bring. At home, Papa consoles Lawrence and tells him he knows a place to find a collection. The next day, the two set off into the forest. But their first few attempts fail, then it begins to rain, and then Lawrence and his papa become separated. But while the small fox is without his papa, he is not alone. His whispered and hallooed comments get replies from the trees, which shower him with leaves. Lawrence is fascinated by their many colors and shapes—it’s the perfect collection for show and tell…and to share among his equally fascinated classmates. Salati’s illustrations, drawn with pencil and colored digitally, have a soft, textured look. The animals are thin and angular, walking on two legs (though only adults sport clothing), and the colors are muted, but the characters express clear emotion. Rear endpapers show labeled outlines of the leaves of 14 trees.
Readers will want to head out to discover a collection of their own. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 9, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4847-8058-9
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Jan. 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2019
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
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BOOK REVIEW
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
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