by Mike Downs & illustrated by David Gordon ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2003
From thumping down the extended Jetway (“STOMP, STOMP, TROMP”) into the aircraft, to running out at flight’s end to Grandma’s “HELLO!,” this account of an air journey focuses on the typical—normal—noises a passenger might hear. Downs, a professional pilot, provides rhymed explanations for the whines and dings, whooshes and roars an anxious young traveler and his parents hear as they buckle up, take off, use the restroom, spill a drink, and other common occurrences—all of which Gordon depicts in reassuringly bland, digitally created onboard scenes. Closing with a sometimes tongue-in-cheek catalogue of further sounds (“MUZAK . . . you might want to bring earplugs for this special treat during the boarding process”), this makes a contribution both cogent and soothing to the scanty library of preflight, or in-flight, reading matter for young, infrequent fliers. (Picture book. 4-7)
Pub Date: May 1, 2003
ISBN: 1-58246-091-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tricycle
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2003
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More by Mike Downs
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by Mike Downs ; illustrated by David Hohn
by Andrea Zimmerman & David Clemesha ; illustrated by Dan Yaccarino ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 30, 1999
Part of a spate of books intent on bringing the garbage collectors in children’s lives a little closer, this almost matches...
Listeners will quickly take up the percussive chorus—“Dump it in, smash it down, drive around the Trashy town! Is the trash truck full yet? NO”—as they follow burly Mr. Gilly, the garbage collector, on his rounds from park to pizza parlor and beyond.
Flinging cans and baskets around with ease, Mr. Gilly dances happily through streetscapes depicted with loud colors and large, blocky shapes; after a climactic visit to the dump, he roars home for a sudsy bath.
Part of a spate of books intent on bringing the garbage collectors in children’s lives a little closer, this almost matches Eve Merriam’s Bam Bam Bam (1995), also illustrated by Yaccarino, for sheer verbal and visual volume. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: April 30, 1999
ISBN: 0-06-027139-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1999
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More by Andrea Zimmerman
BOOK REVIEW
by Andrea Zimmerman ; illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
BOOK REVIEW
by Andrea Zimmerman ; illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
BOOK REVIEW
by Andrea Zimmerman ; illustrated by Jing Jing Tsong
by Phuc Tran ; illustrated by Pete Oswald ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 6, 2024
Kids will come for the construction vehicles and leave with some social-emotional skills.
Anthropomorphic trucks and construction vehicles work through big feelings.
“I’m Cranky,” announces a yellow crane—that’s our protagonist’s name and state of mind. It’s a big day at the construction site; everyone’s completing work on the construction of a new bridge. Friends like Zippy the cement mixer and Wheezy the forklift encourage Cranky to cheer up. But their positivity only makes Cranky feel worse. Cranky eats alone at lunch and feels increasingly isolated as the day goes on. When Zippy and Wheezy express concern, Cranky suddenly becomes even more upset: “Asking me what’s wrong makes me feel like it’s not okay for me to be cranky!” The others back off, and slowly, the grouchy crane’s mood starts to improve. And the friends are right there when Cranky is ready to open up. Bright colors, adorably anthropomorphic vehicles, and layouts that alternate between vignettes and full-page spreads will hold readers’ attention through what is a mostly introspective narrative. Tran imparts some solid messages, such as the importance of giving pals the space they need and communicating your needs, even if you choose not to share everything. Some of the nuance will be lost on younger readers, but the story will spark conversations with others. Construction puns such as “self-of-steam” should get some chuckles from older kids and adults.
Kids will come for the construction vehicles and leave with some social-emotional skills. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9780063256286
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023
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