by Nechama Sittner ; illustrated by Tova Leff ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 8, 2013
Pinny is young enough that a haircut can still be fun, and readers will be as delighted as he is.
For some people, a haircut qualifies as a rescue mission.
Pinny has more toys than any child in picture books. He’s got a tunnel the length of his room, a dump truck large enough to ride in and a toy sheep that—in Leff’s illustrations—is more expressive than most adults. The only trouble is, he can’t see any of them. His bangs are so long they almost reach his nose. (He looks a little like Ally Sheedy in The Breakfast Club.) His family has tried clips and ponytail holders, but they never last beyond the end of playtime. Fortunately, Pinny is turning 3, and, like many Orthodox boys, he’s ready for his upsherin party. That means he gets to sit in a tall chair while his relatives give him his first haircut. A child who isn’t sure what an upsherin is may not be the audience for this book, but more-observant Jews will keep reading, if only to see what toy shows up next. This is the rare picture book whose endnotes are just as interesting as the story: Some teachers spread honey on letters of the alphabet, so the 3-year-old can experience the sweetness of learning.
Pinny is young enough that a haircut can still be fun, and readers will be as delighted as he is. (glossary) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 8, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-929628-72-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Hachai
Review Posted Online: April 23, 2013
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by Chloe Perkins ; illustrated by Sandra Equihua ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 13, 2016
A nice but not requisite purchase.
A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.
Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.
A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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adapted by Hannah Eliot ; illustrated by Nivea Ortiz
by Chloe Perkins ; illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova
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by Julia Donaldson illustrated by Axel Scheffler ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 1999
The action of this rhymed and humorous tale centers upon a mouse who "took a stroll/through the deep dark wood./A fox saw the mouse/and the mouse looked good." The mouse escapes being eaten by telling the fox that he is on his way to meet his friend the gruffalo (a monster of his imagination), whose favorite food is roasted fox. The fox beats a hasty retreat. Similar escapes are in store for an owl and a snake; both hightail it when they learn the particulars: tusks, claws, terrible jaws, eyes orange, tongue black, purple prickles on its back. When the gruffalo suddenly materializes out of the mouse's head and into the forest, the mouse has to think quick, declaring himself inedible as the "scariest creature in the deep dark wood," and inviting the gruffalo to follow him to witness the effect he has on the other creatures. When the gruffalo hears that the mouse's favorite food is gruffalo crumble, he runs away. It's a fairly innocuous tale, with twists that aren't sharp enough and treachery that has no punch. Scheffler's funny scenes prevent the suspense from culminating; all his creatures, predator and prey, are downright lovable. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: June 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-8037-2386-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1999
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SEEN & HEARD
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