Everyone has some secret powers hidden inside.
Ralph the rooster longs to be a superhero.
As evidenced by the many comic books scattered about his roost (along with Captain Eggplant and Shark Man posters), Ralph is thrilled by daring rescues and super strengths. He likes to believe he has some superpowers of his own. Unfortunately, they lack a bit of greatness. “He could crow and make the sun rise…but only when it wasn’t raining.” He is able to fly…but not very far. The other animals on the farm are not amused. In language littered with puns, they bemoan Ralph’s active imagination. “He’s udderly ridiculous,” says Caroline the cow. “You’re not pulling the wool over my eyes,” says Sheila the sheep. But one animal is Ralph’s best friend: Rosie the pig. Rosie is the most encouraging sidekick ever. When Ralph hears “The Chicken Dance” on the radio for the first time, Rosie hollers: “That dance is your super-duper rooster booster!” Super strength charges through Ralph as soon as he does all the moves! Unfortunately, he still has trouble judging what is a true disaster and what is not. Regardless, Ralph is ready. The amusing and bouncy refrain is a read-aloud treat: “Cheep-cheep-cheep! / Flap-flap-flap! / Wiggle-wiggle-wiggle, / and a clap-clap-clap!” McClurkan’s uncomplicated farm scenes emphasize the animals’ expressive faces (especially George the goat’s). (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 47% of actual size.)
Everyone has some secret powers hidden inside. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5420-0778-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Two Lions
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Every life and job is unique; this book’s take on the job of a watchman is empathetic, poetic, and a joy to look at, cute...
The story of a simple friendship that forms over the course of a night shift is given rich life with evocative art and prose.
After the title character leaves his family to work as a caretaker of a large construction site, he’s visited by a small, gray kitten. The tiny furry companion follows as the night watchman makes his rounds, but when the kitten disappears, the man worries about its fate as he hears a dog, a train, passing cars. This isn’t a Stephen King novel; things turn out fine, and the man’s family ends up one feline richer. But the journey to get to that dawn reunion is lovely. Illustrator Yoo’s sunsets, purple-to-blue night skies, and chalky beams of yellow light set the mood, while her deceptively simple rendering of the kind-faced watchman puts readers into the man’s shoes. But the real surprise is the depth of debut writer Sullivan’s words. The construction vehicles don’t just sit on the lot: “Garbage trucks line up like circus elephants. / A backhoe rises like a giant insect.” Sound effects (“peent peent peent” goes a nighthawk) and lived-in, careful observations make it no surprise to learn that Sullivan was a building and equipment guard and that the cat-adoption story is real. The man and his family are people of color.
Every life and job is unique; this book’s take on the job of a watchman is empathetic, poetic, and a joy to look at, cute kitty and all. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 25, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4814-6191-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2018
Got the message? Who wouldn’t love a school helper or pet like Arfy?
Meet Arfy, a worker dog with paw-pose.
Arfy’s “job” is helping students gain confidence as they read to the canine in the school library. One day, Arfy discovers a turtle inside their helper-dog-vest’s pocket. Arfy aims to track down the owners of the reptile, dubbed “Hidey.” To accomplish this goal, Arfy sends chatty emails and illustrated written queries (Arfy grips a pencil between their teeth to accomplish this), signed with paw prints, to various school personnel, including the principal, cafeteria staff, gym coach, and art teacher. They reply, also through electronic or written means, until the satisfying resolution is reached: Hidey’s owners are found—an event foreshadowed by sly references to a particular teacher. A buzzy Zoom conference convenes, and Arfy sends Hidey a farewell note. This delightful epistolary tale will captivate readers with good-natured humor and references to tech devices. Other pluses include modeling how to write a letter: Communiques throughout contain examples of courteous written discourse as well as correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation (admittedly, more appealing to adults than youngsters). Additionally, various messages offer valuable pointers on the proper, safe handling of turtles. The illustrations are cheery and charming, as is Arfy’s wide-eyed expressiveness. School staff and students are racially diverse; one child uses a wheelchair. Note the comical illustrated twist at book’s end. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Got the message? Who wouldn’t love a school helper or pet like Arfy? (websites on cat and dog adoption) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: June 28, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-43216-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022
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