bookshelf

CROC & TURTLE

Name: CROC & TURTLE
Author: Mike Wohnoutka
ISBN: 978-1-68119-634-3

by Mike Wohnoutka ; illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 12, 2019

These reptiles with a rockin’ relationship will win fans.

bookshelf

Is Croc best at something? Pal Turtle certainly thinks so.

Croc asks Turtle if Turtle would like to see Croc lift a heavy rock; Turtle says sure. It’s not easy, but Croc lifts it and claims the title of strongest. Turtle claps. Along comes Elephant, who tries lifting the rock…and tosses it skyward. Croc then asks Turtle if Turtle would like to see Croc jump over the rock. Turtle is impressed when Croc performs the task…then along comes Rabbit, who demonstrates that Croc’s not the best jumper either. Turns out Croc’s not as fast as Cheetah, either. Croc’s sad not to be the best at anything. Turtle points out that Croc is better than Turtle at all of the feats attempted. Neither of them is the best…until they realize they are both the best at being best friends. Wohnoutka’s good-natured tale of competition concludes with a heartwarming denouement and a funny finish, when the buddies bump into a friendly shark after deciding Turtle’s the best swimmer and Croc has the most teeth. Between its kid-friendly treatment and its sunny, cartoon characters, this is a great addition to storytime collections as well as good bibliotherapy for the overly competitive. The text is composed entirely of dialogue and sound effects, and no character has a specified gender.

These reptiles with a rockin’ relationship will win fans. (Picture book. 2-7)

Pub Date: Feb. 12, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-68119-634-3

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Review Posted Online: Sept. 16, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2018

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
UPS AND DOWNS
by Mike Wohnoutka ; illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

- BOOK REVIEW
SEE THE GHOST
by David LaRochelle ; illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

- BOOK REVIEW
SEE THE DOG
by David LaRochelle ; illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

bookshelf

ADDIE ANT GOES ON AN ADVENTURE

by Maren Morris & Karina Argow ; illustrated by Kelly Anne Dalton ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 9, 2024

Young readers will be “antsy” to join the hero on her satisfying escapade.

bookshelf

An ant explores her world.

Addie Ant’s ready for adventure. Despite some trepidation about leaving the Tomato Bed, where she lives with her aunt, she plucks up her courage and ventures forth across the garden to the far side of the shed. On her journey, she meets her pal Lewis Ladybug, who greets her warmly, points the way, and offers sage advice. When Addie arrives at her destination, she’s welcomed by lovely Beatrix Butterfly and enjoys an “ant-tastic” helping of watermelon. Beatrix also provides Addie with take-home treats and a map for the “Cricket Express,” which will take her straight home. Arriving at the terminal, Addie’s delighted to meet another friend, Cleo Cricket, whose carriage service returns Addie home in “two hops.” After eating a warm tomato soup dinner, Addie falls asleep and dreams of future exploits. Adorable though not terribly original, this story brims with sensuous pleasures, both textual and visual. Kids who declare that they dislike fruits or veggies may find their mouths watering at the mentions and sights of luscious tomatoes, peas, beans, watermelons, berries, and other foodstuffs; insect-averse readers may likewise think differently after encountering these convivial, wide-eyed characters. And those flowers and herbs everywhere! The highlights are the colors that burst from the pages. Addie’s an endearing, empowering character who reassures children they’ll be able to take those first independent steps successfully.

Young readers will be “antsy” to join the hero on her satisfying escapade. (author’s note about ants) (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: April 9, 2024

ISBN: 9781797228914

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2024

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

bookshelf

ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

bookshelf

Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)