A story of family transitions and childhood milestones that marks another fine addition to a cozy British series.
Rescue dog McTavish helps his young human adjust when they move to a new house.
The fourth installment in the McTavish Stories series sees the tightknit Peachey family moving to a new neighborhood thanks to Pa Peachey’s new job. Moving also means changing schools for Betty and Ollie but not for oldest child Ava. While the three siblings are not thrilled about leaving behind the only home they have ever known, Betty, the youngest, is the one most anxious about the big changes ahead. Eventually, though, we all—even dogs—have to face the unknown and take the first step into a new life. And having a canine pal like McTavish can help when it comes to making new friends. This fast-paced transitional chapter book is peppered with well-placed grayscale illustrations. They show that the Peachey family members have pale and tan skin tones and that Betty’s classmates are casually diverse. The story can be used to teach children about the dangers of taking dogs into public spaces and not penning them up when appropriate. In a book that generally feels old-fashioned, the appearance of a mobile phone is a bit jarring.
A story of family transitions and childhood milestones that marks another fine addition to a cozy British series. (Transitional chapter book. 7-10)Pub Date: June 28, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5362-1376-8
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: March 15, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2022
Another winner from Mills, equally well suited to reading aloud and independent reading.
When Franklin School principal Mr. Boone announces a pet-show fundraiser, white third-grader Cody—whose lack of skill and interest in academics is matched by keen enthusiasm for and knowledge of animals—discovers his time to shine.
As with other books in this series, the children and adults are believable and well-rounded. Even the dialogue is natural—no small feat for a text easily accessible to intermediate readers. Character growth occurs, organically and believably. Students occasionally, humorously, show annoyance with teachers: “He made mad squinty eyes at Mrs. Molina, which fortunately she didn’t see.” Readers will be kept entertained by Cody’s various problems and the eventual solutions. His problems include needing to raise $10 to enter one of his nine pets in the show (he really wants to enter all of them), his troublesome dog Angus—“a dog who ate homework—actually, who ate everything and then threw up afterward”—struggles with homework, and grappling with his best friend’s apparently uncaring behavior toward a squirrel. Serious values and issues are explored with a light touch. The cheery pencil illustrations show the school’s racially diverse population as well as the memorable image of Mr. Boone wearing an elephant costume. A minor oddity: why does a child so immersed in animal facts call his male chicken a rooster but his female chickens chickens?
Another winner from Mills, equally well suited to reading aloud and independent reading. (Fiction. 7-10)Pub Date: June 14, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-374-30223-8
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: March 15, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look...
Winning actually isn’t everything, as jazz-happy Rooster learns when he goes up against the legendary likes of Mules Davis and Ella Finchgerald at the barnyard talent show.
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look good—particularly after his “ ‘Hen from Ipanema’ [makes] / the barnyard chickies swoon.”—but in the end the competition is just too stiff. No matter: A compliment from cool Mules and the conviction that he still has the world’s best band soon puts the strut back in his stride. Alexander’s versifying isn’t always in tune (“So, he went to see his cousin, / a pianist of great fame…”), and despite his moniker Rooster plays an electric bass in Bower’s canted country scenes. Children are unlikely to get most of the jokes liberally sprinkled through the text, of course, so the adults sharing it with them should be ready to consult the backmatter, which consists of closing notes on jazz’s instruments, history and best-known musicians.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-58536-688-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
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