A clever, new rhyming spin on the old moral about judging individuals by their appearances.
A misunderstood crocodile only wants lemonade but his sharp teeth keep scaring off the humans who could serve him some in this debut picture book.
All a friendly crocodile wants is some refreshing lemonade. He finds a lemonade stand, but the kids running it are so terrified, they flee in panic Still without lemonade, the crocodile drives to a fancy restaurant, where again he is feared because of his looks. Finally, at a burger joint, he orders lemonade from a distracted cashier. When the crocodile has a chance to save the day, the cashier realizes that there’s something good behind the reptile’s startling appearance. The moral of not judging people (or animals) by how they look is a familiar one, but this tale has an ingenious twist. Crocodiles are dangerous, after all—especially for a thief trying to rob a store serving lemonade. Ripley’s short phrases, consistent scansion and rhymes, and witty repeating phrases invite young readers to join in. The people who run from the reptile “see his pointy teeth / and not the crocodile” and decide that “getting eaten by a crocodile / does not sound very fun.” The author’s illustrations are reminiscent of social commentary cartoons with their exaggerated caricatures, which work well alongside the rhymes. Humans of several ages, sizes, and skin tones are depicted, and a gag about the young cashier who’s glued to his cellphone will make adult readers chuckle.
A clever, new rhyming spin on the old moral about judging individuals by their appearances.Pub Date: July 15, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5255-7459-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: March 20, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Unusual illustrations enhance an engaging, informative narrative.
What can a worm do?
A little worm sets off on a “twirl” to “see the world.” But when it overhears a human referring to it as “just a worm,” its feelings are hurt. The worm asks other critters—including a caterpillar, a spider, a dragonfly—what they can do. After each answer (turn into a butterfly, spin silk thread, fly), the worm becomes more and more dejected because it can’t do any of these things. “Maybe I am just a worm.” But then the worm encounters a ladybug, who eats aphids and other insects, and the worm realizes that it eats dead plants and animals and keeps gardens clean. And though the worm can’t pollinate like the bee, it does create castings (poop) that help plants grow and stay healthy. These abilities, the worm realizes in triumph, are important! The cleverness of this story lies in its lighthearted, effective dissemination of information about various insects as well as earthworms. It doesn’t hurt that the expressive little worm is downright adorable, with emotions that will resonate with anyone who has felt unimportant. The stunning illustrations are done in quilled paper—a centuries-old technique that involves assembling strips of colored paper into shapes—which adds sparkle and originality. A tutorial of how to make a quilled butterfly and a page on earthworm facts round out the book. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Unusual illustrations enhance an engaging, informative narrative. (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 14, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-06-321256-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2022
Echoes of Runaway Bunny color this exchange between a bath-averse piglet and his patient mother. Using a strategy that would probably be a nonstarter in real life, the mother deflects her stubborn offspring’s string of bath-free occupational conceits with appeals to reason: “Pirates NEVER EVER take baths!” “Pirates don’t get seasick either. But you do.” “Yeesh. I’m an astronaut, okay?” “Well, it is hard to bathe in zero gravity. It’s hard to poop and pee in zero gravity too!” And so on, until Mom’s enticing promise of treasure in the deep sea persuades her little Treasure Hunter to take a dive. Chunky figures surrounded by lots of bright white space in Segal’s minimally detailed watercolors keep the visuals as simple as the plotline. The language isn’t quite as basic, though, and as it rendered entirely in dialogue—Mother Pig’s lines are italicized—adult readers will have to work hard at their vocal characterizations for it to make any sense. Moreover, younger audiences (any audiences, come to that) may wonder what the piggy’s watery closing “EUREKA!!!” is all about too. Not particularly persuasive, but this might coax a few young porkers to get their trotters into the tub. (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: March 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-399-25425-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: Jan. 25, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
