A funny little tale of pet love.
Why won’t this dog behave? (Well, it may be obvious to some….)
The first and only thing on this little kid’s birthday list was a dog. However, when the dog emerges from the polka-dot gift box, it turns out to be a bad one. Rocky won’t come when she’s called. Rocky would rather play with the leash than go for a walk like good dogs. She doesn’t like other dogs, but she is a good climber (in fact, she climbs trees when other dogs are around). The eager protagonist tries to teach Rocky dog tricks, but Rocky is just not a good dog! What does Rocky like to do? Play with shoelaces, sleep in the sun, sleep on the laundry, and play in the water—of the fish tank. All that makes Rocky’s owner think that her bad dog “with black-and-white fur. Pointy ears. And a cute little nose [might] make a pretty great cat.” Boldt’s tale of a bad dog will have young audiences hollering (and giggling) at the little protagonist, who keeps insisting the obviously feline birthday present is a dog. And what cat would make a good dog? The illustrations have an animation aesthetic—the expressive child (who has olive skin and straight, black hair) and the pudgy calico are adorable—and provide all of the laughs as they slyly contradict the protagonist’s narration.
A funny little tale of pet love. (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-9848-4797-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: July 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet story of acceptance for all those who are this, that, neither, either, and everything in between
“Once upon a time, there were two kinds: this and that”: blue bunnies and yellow birds, with no other options. Until one day, an unusual egg hatches something that’s a bit of both—it’s a bright green creature with ears and tail like a bunny’s on a body like a bird’s. An animal that’s both, or Neither, does not really fit in anywhere, not quite “rabbity” nor “birdy” enough. So Neither flies off for Somewhere Else and stumbles upon a friendly community with lots of other “neither” sorts. Anderson’s bright gouache illustrations depict fantastic, rainbow-hued creatures that don’t quite fit into any neat box, not even those of well-known mythical creatures. Wings, spots, unicorn horns, and beaks, in any combination, all are welcome in the Land of All. Overtly a celebration of nonbinary identities, this parable is well-suited for any shelf seeking positive diversity titles for preschoolers and early-elementary students. Reminiscent of other recent titles in the same vein (Michael Hall’s Red, 2015, and Andrea J. Loney and Carmen Saldaña’s Bunnybear, 2017, are just two), this stands out for its accessibility to even very young read-aloud audiences.
A sweet story of acceptance for all those who are this, that, neither, either, and everything in between . (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: Feb. 13, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-54769-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Nov. 21, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2017
It’s a lucky thing indeed that this book is as great a joy to read aloud as it is.
One duck’s luck is another wolf’s disaster in this tale of tragedy averted.
Right from the start, Susan is convinced that she is by far the unluckiest of ducks, since the roller skates she ordered turned out to be two sizes too big. Just at that moment, however, a well-dressed wolf appears at her door, informing her that she’s the winner of a big beautiful soup pot. And so it goes: Each time Susan feels that her luck’s run out, the wolf reappears with some new (and edible) soup-related prize. Long before poor Susan does, kids will realize the price of the wolf’s gifts. Still, when the finale arrives, it turns out that each “unlucky” thing to happen to Susan helps her to survive another day. Sharp-eyed readers may notice a tiny bug responsible for at least two of Susan’s missing items, also aiding in her deliverance from the wolf’s hungry maw. The pure clean lines and limited palette lend a distinctly ’50s vibe to the proceedings, while the text makes for a charming storytime. Meanwhile, the narrative has shades of Keiko Kasza’s My Lucky Day (2003) and Mo Willems’ That Is NOT a Good Idea (2013). Few may be surprised by the resolution, but the familiarity is much of the story’s charm.
It’s a lucky thing indeed that this book is as great a joy to read aloud as it is. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9780593649770
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023
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