A restrained text fuses with visually arresting and enigmatic interactions to open a welcoming space for contemplation.
Following The Outlaw (2018), this second title of a trilogy offers a new character to ponder.
Various elements link this to the first book, such as the pacing; limited palette, with an abundance of gray, green, and black; incorporation of newspaper fragments and 19th-century fabric patterns. Nevertheless, such knowledge is not necessary for comprehension. Readers first see the back of the protagonist—a figure rendered in watercolor that bleeds into the scene, masking identity. The page turn reveals a female of indeterminate race with long black braids. Vo employs color, plot twists, and dramatically changing perspectives to elicit surprise and maintain suspense. While moving through the forest, Annie discovers an orange fox, trapped and suffering. She releases the animal and binds its wound but resolves not to tame it. Her emotional position is underscored by her physical one. Seen from the fox’s perspective, Annie appears as tall and unapproachable as the parallel tree trunks disappearing off the page. The creature accompanies the ranger on her journey; when a bear attacks and Annie is knocked unconscious, she is cared for by a mysterious woman, dressed in orange, casting the shadow of a fox. The ranger must then come to terms with her stubborn stance on independence in the face of friendship’s rewards.
A restrained text fuses with visually arresting and enigmatic interactions to open a welcoming space for contemplation. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-77306-128-3
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Groundwood
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2019
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
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