The wolfish pictures are charmingly done, and the basic plot is sure to appeal, but the underpinning metaphor (regardless of...
An energetic young werewolf delights in his speed and strength in this British import.
Oliver, depicted as a child with brown skin and tightly curled black hair, is at the bus stop when suddenly all of his friends flee. He doesn’t understand why the bus won’t stop for him nor why a man shouts, “Help! A werewolf!” when approached—until a glimpse of his reflection reveals his transformation. Oliver’s excited to run, jump, and howl, but his glee is short-lived, quickly turning to anxiety: If friends run away terrified, how will his parents react? Happily, Oliver comes from a family of werewolves—his parents are unperturbed, and they’re all human again at sunrise. Some readers may appreciate seeing this black child revel in supernatural abilities. However, the story also shows Oliver denied service on public transportation and treated as a menace on the street before he realizes he’s a werewolf, which is serious, even distressing in an American context. Emotive illustrations, lupine jokes galore, and a vigorous story are balanced against troubling possible interpretations.
The wolfish pictures are charmingly done, and the basic plot is sure to appeal, but the underpinning metaphor (regardless of intent) makes it difficult to recommend this title without reservations . (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 26, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-338-25433-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Levine/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
Only for dedicated fans of the series.
When a kid gets the part of the ninja master in the school play, it finally seems to be the right time to tackle the closet monster.
“I spot my monster right away. / He’s practicing his ROAR. / He almost scares me half to death, / but I won’t be scared anymore!” The monster is a large, fluffy poison-green beast with blue hands and feet and face and a fluffy blue-and-green–striped tail. The kid employs a “bag of tricks” to try to catch the monster: in it are a giant wind-up shark, two cans of silly string, and an elaborate cage-and-robot trap. This last works, but with an unexpected result: the monster looks sad. Turns out he was only scaring the boy to wake him up so they could be friends. The monster greets the boy in the usual monster way: he “rips a massive FART!!” that smells like strawberries and lime, and then they go to the monster’s house to meet his parents and play. The final two spreads show the duo getting ready for bed, which is a rather anticlimactic end to what has otherwise been a rambunctious tale. Elkerton’s bright illustrations have a TV-cartoon aesthetic, and his playful beast is never scary. The narrator is depicted with black eyes and hair and pale skin. Wallace’s limping verses are uninspired at best, and the scansion and meter are frequently off.
Only for dedicated fans of the series. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4926-4894-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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