This story begins like the others in the series, including The Egg (2001), The Great Dragon Rescue (2004) and The Dragon Snatcher (2005): An English boy named George sits in his garden, concerned with little more than “his mother’s favourite chicken.” On the next page, he is without explanation transported to a land “where knights were bold, and carried big shiny swords to prove it.” The story then unfolds with fairy-tale predictability: The King will reward half his kingdom to anyone who rids the land of a pair of gruesome trolls, and of course, George can achieve what the entire army cannot. Robertson’s illustrations feature truly ugly trolls—twins with the same ears, bad taste in jewelry and severe underbite—and beautiful dragons, but the divide-and-conquer story line comes to a quick and tidy solution, with readers placed once again back in George’s yard with just the turn of a page. Recommended for fans of the series. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-84507-763-1
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2009
Joe and Sparky are unlikely buddies—turtle Sparky enjoys the safety of his shell while giraffe Joe is up for any adventure. Joe, convinced that he has won a contest, decides to take the prize, a bright yellow sports car, for a spin. Sparky is not so sure about this, but agrees to the road trip only if it is a very slow and short one. Four chapters tell the story of these two pals out for an adventure at the mall, at a drive-in burger joint and back home at Safari Land, where they appreciate their pond, the warm rock, the watering hole and even Wiggy, Joe’s pet worm. New readers ready for the challenge of more words per page will appreciate the humor of the story and illustrations. Children familiar with the Froggy books will recognize Remkiewicz’s distinctively funny style and will laugh out loud at the innocent assumptions Joe (who sports a Carmen Miranda–like fruit hat) and Sparky make as they explore the world outside Sparky’s shell. Utterly charming. (Early reader. 5-8)
Pub Date: March 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3387-5
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2009
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Edward has big plans—and a big imagination. When he takes his bicycle (a Sky-Hopper 2000) to the park and receives three wishes from the titular company (“Buy Two. Get One Free”), his life takes some unexpected turns. Like so many kids in stories involving wishes, he spends them carelessly and finds life complicated by their aftermath. He wants his Sky-Hopper to fly, but neglects to be seated on the bike when he makes his wish. It flies. He does not. Such self-consciously goofy words as splurcher, figgler and Bog Bubbler monster distract from this tale, which moves along breathlessly—even frantically. The amount of print on many pages will discourage many young readers who might be attracted to this tall tale of wishes wasted, worlds turned upside down and set right again. Kids who like Daniel Pinkwater’s early chapter books will enjoy the wordplay here, however, and young inventors with a short attention span might enjoy hearing this read aloud. (Picture book. 4-7)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-55453-264-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2009
BOOK REVIEW
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