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A FLYING VISIT

From the Percy the Park Keeper series

By turns funny, poignant, and affirming.

Sometimes, (day)dreams do come true.

In the latest in the series, the hedgehog who lives in the park where light-skinned Percy works is asleep, dreaming about the joy of flying. But he’s rudely interrupted by a shower of buckeye chestnuts, and he rolls himself into a protective ball. In a laugh-out-loud scene, the hedgehog uncurls to see a strange bird named Carla “tangled up in what looked like a clothesline and…going up and down like a yo-yo.” At Carla's request, the hedgehog doesn’t tell Percy what’s going on and does his best to help. First, the hedgehog trots off in search of food for Carla and returns, after a bit of a tumble, with his spines stuck in one of Percy’s sandwiches, a giggleworthy image. The chatty Carla explains how she ended up like this: Spotting some food near the clothesline, she swooped, but the clothes “went flappy-flap,” she hit her head, and then she got tangled. Carla hurt her head, so the hedgehog races off to Percy’s to get Band-Aids and creates quite a mess in the process. Luckily, Percy arrives to untangle Carla. During the few days Carla spends recovering, everyone works out a plan to help the hedgehog’s dream of flying come true. The smile on the hedgehog’s face is priceless, as are the warm, cozy illustrations in this tender tale of friendship and community. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

By turns funny, poignant, and affirming. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2022

ISBN: 978-0-00-848435-4

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022

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HELLO SPRING!

Informative fun; engaging photography.

The changes from winter into spring—especially in the northeastern U.S.—are illustrated with numerous colored photographs.

After a title page sporting brilliant purple petals against wide green leaves, the first double-page spread shows the pale face of a child, wistfully looking out from a frost-framed, droplet-splattered window. The large-print text says: “Winter. / Waiting… / for nature / to wake up.” The pages that follow show the annual awakening of flora, fauna, and land in a temperate climate—probably the author’s native Massachusetts, hinted at by a wide maple tree adorned with sap-collection buckets. Excellent layout ensures that simple sentences are surrounded by striking photographs to support the basic science of seasonal change. Among the vibrant plants and baby animals are children whose appearances are diverse in skin, hair, and eye color but alike in their exuberance at being outdoors in the spring. The children are generally gardening or tending to animals in sunshine, with care taken to include one youngster reveling in spring rain. Plants and critters, both domestic and wild, are as vividly portrayed as the children. The text uses a well-chosen array of verbs, alliteration, and basic scientific vocabulary. The final double-page spread, showing three brown-skinned children romping after a kite against a bright blue-and-green landscape, is a perfect accompaniment to the gentle reminder that spring leads into summer.

Informative fun; engaging photography. (glossary) (Informational picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: March 1, 2017

ISBN: 978-0-8234-3752-8

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Holiday House

Review Posted Online: Dec. 20, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2017

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PENELOPE'S BALLOONS

A cozy friendship story is always welcome; the animals and balloons here add to the fun.

Penelope Elephant adores her 10 red balloons, which go everywhere she goes.

Penelope’s very protective of her treasured balloons: She sits far away from best pal Piper the porcupine on the school bus, and at recess, she avoids a sharp-toothed crocodilian friend. One day after school, Penelope rushes home when a sudden storm develops. Though she tries to hold tight to her treasures in the face of heavy winds, eventually she lets go. She sits alone in the forest, brokenhearted. Supportive Piper appears with an umbrella and walks Penelope to her front door. Penelope soon discovers that one balloon has drifted home. Grabbing it, she races to her room and wraps it elaborately in a box to preserve it. As she tries mightily to protect it from her parents, who want to help, it breaks. Still, there’s good news in the air—literally: Outside the window, everyone glimpses nine red balloons floating in the air. Flinging the front door open, Penelope discovers her balloons have received help returning home: Each one’s clutched firmly by a good friend. Penelope now realizes what the “greatest treasures” truly are. This sweet friendship story makes clear that people are more important than even the most cherished of objects. The lively, colorful illustrations—those red balloons really pop—keep things moving. Penelope’s an endearing, realistically developed character among the anthropomorphized all-animal cast; children will relate to her plight.

A cozy friendship story is always welcome; the animals and balloons here add to the fun. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: April 16, 2024

ISBN: 9781454951827

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Union Square Kids

Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024

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