A charming fantasy with a noble moral.
In Pellico’s children’s series starter, a young girl bravely befriends a young witch.
As the sun begins to set on a splendid Halloween, 7-year-old Sabrina and her brother, Stephen, come across a truly spectacular sight. A frightened witch is sitting in a tree after colliding with it in flight; now, she’s dropped her broom, and a group of boys on the ground want to capture her, because, in their view, “Witches are bad” and not to be trusted. Plucky Sabrina climbs the tree with the witch’s broom in hand and introduces herself. Anna, the young witch, is also 7—or at least she thinks so, but because she has no friends, she’s never celebrated a birthday. The two girls hit it off and make plans to meet again and celebrate Anna turning 8. On her broom, the witch soars away, using magic to create a shower of candy for her new pal. Pellico’s book for early readers presents a tale of mystery and friendship with vibrant illustrations to swiftly relay a strong message. The mix of simple and complex vocabulary works well, introducing new terms while also providing plenty of familiar words for youngsters. Despite the short length, there’s adequate dialogue, description, and character development; however, there are a few instances when the sheer volume of text overwhelms the page. Berry’s illustrations offer vivid color and a sense of whimsy; for example, Sabrina is adorned in a tiara, cape, and cowboy boots, showcasing her offbeat, intriguing personality. The brisk plot leaves room for expansion, but its simplicity will resonate with young readers, and it delivers a powerful message about treating strangers with kindness.
A charming fantasy with a noble moral.Pub Date: Dec. 15, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-73391-307-2
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Moonbow Publishing
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Frightful and delightful: a comforting (to some, anyway) reminder that no one sleeps alone.
In a tardy prequel to I Need My Monster (2009), candidates for that coveted spot under the bed audition.
As the distressingly unflappable young narrator looks on, one monster after another gives it a go—but even with three mouths, the best roar Genghis can manage is a puny “blurp!”, silly shadow puppets by shaggy Morgan elicit only a sneeze, and red Abigail’s attempt to startle by hiding in the fridge merely leaves her shivering and pathetic. Fortunately, there’s Gabe, who knows just how to turn big and hairy while lurking outside the bathroom and whose red-eyed stare and gross drooling sends the lad scrambling into bed to save his toes. “Kid, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” the toothy terror growls. Right he is, the lad concludes, snuggling down beneath the covers: “His snorts and ooze were perfect.” As usual, the white-presenting child’s big, bright, smiling face and the assortment of bumbling monsters rendered in oversaturated hues keep any actual scariness at tentacle’s length. Moreover, Monster, Inc. fans will delight in McWilliam’s painstaking details of fang, claw, hair, and scales.
Frightful and delightful: a comforting (to some, anyway) reminder that no one sleeps alone. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-947277-09-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Flashlight Press
Review Posted Online: June 22, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2019
A touching, beautifully illustrated story of greatest interest to those in the New York City area.
A pair of cardinals is separated and then reunited when their tree home is moved to New York City to serve as the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
The male cardinal, Red, and his female partner, Lulu, enjoy their home in a huge evergreen tree located in the front yard of a small house in a pleasant neighborhood. When the tree is cut down and hauled away on a truck, Lulu is still inside the tree. Red follows the truck into the city but loses sight of it and gets lost. The birds are reunited when Red finds the tree transformed with colored lights and serving as the Christmas tree in a complex of city buildings. When the tree is removed after Christmas, the birds find a new home in a nearby park. Each following Christmas, the pair visit the new tree erected in the same location. Attractive illustrations effectively handle some difficult challenges of dimension and perspective and create a glowing, magical atmosphere for the snowy Christmas trees. The original owners of the tree are a multiracial family with two children; the father is African-American and the mother is white. The family is in the background in the early pages, reappearing again skating on the rink at Rockefeller Center with their tree in the background.
A touching, beautifully illustrated story of greatest interest to those in the New York City area. (author’s note) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-7636-7733-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Aug. 20, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2017
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