Though the theme’s upstanding, the book as a whole is little more than just pleasant.
A picture-book parable set in the animal world with the themes of bullying and forgiveness.
Old Crow is tormented by the younger, better-looking birds led by the prideful, brilliantly plumaged Cardinal. When Crow finally squawks back, he finds himself ostracized and alone. Winter arrives, and the other birds fly south, but Cardinal and Crow stay. As Cardinal feeds from the bird feeder located near Crow’s branch, Crow warns him about dangers lurking, but Cardinal doesn’t listen and is caught by a cat. Crow tricks Cat into letting Cardinal go, and when a thankful Cardinal asks Crow how he knew what to do, Crow tells him that “pride and foolishness often roost on the same branch.” Cardinal gets the message, and when the other birds return in the spring, they follow Cardinal’s lead and tease Crow no longer. While interesting enough, the narrative nonetheless is a bit too long; fables benefit from brevity. The illustrations—all full-bleed double-page spreads—mirror the text. Some have a delicate touch and elegant line, but others look clunky and unfinished; close-ups in particular suffer. The wintry palette limits him already, and by choosing to illustrate his story so literally, Moniz misses an opportunity to create a rich visual experience.
Though the theme’s upstanding, the book as a whole is little more than just pleasant. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-927018-58-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simply Read
Review Posted Online: Oct. 5, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2014
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
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