An engaging observance of a Māori holiday.
A kiwi reports exciting news.
Little Kiwi awakens, shouts, “It’s coming!” and hurries to share thrilling news. She rouses her sleepy animal pals, urging them to join her in pursuit. Each friend explains that Little Kiwi’s sense that something momentous is imminent is misguided, but, failing to persuade Kiwi to return to her bed, each gets up and follows her. Their final destination is the beach, where they wait until…they witness the Pleiades, the star cluster that, Little Kiwi explains, means the Māori New Year has arrived. Acknowledging the occasion, each friend indulges in the holiday’s special customs: eating, enjoying family time, singing, and playing. This sweet New Zealand import nicely captures the anticipation preceding the celebration in that country, which occurs “around May or June” according to backmatter. Children will enjoy learning about the festival and comparing it to other New Year celebrations. They’ll also appreciate the “sky is falling” vibe inherent in the animals’ humorous chase. The flightless, nocturnal kiwi is native to New Zealand; her wide-eyed buddies’ names are, like hers, Māori, but readers not in the know will have to do a bit of outside research to discover that. The crisp, stylized illustrations are energetic, and the palette of browns, blue, yellows, grays, and white and black highlight the nighttime escapade. Characters’ names, sound words, and other important words are emphasized in larger fonts.
An engaging observance of a Māori holiday. (star chart) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-76036-094-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Starfish Bay
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2020
It’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how many mediocre sequels you can squeeze out of Seussian property.
Since a reformed Grinch is hardly any fun, this follow-up Grinches him up once more.
Those seeking more of the same, prepare to receive precisely that. Christmas is coming (again!), and the Grinch can hardly wait. He’s been patient all year, and now he can finally show the Whos down in Who-ville how much he’s changed. When the Grinch learns of a tree-decorating contest, he figures that if he wins, it’ll prove he truly has the Christmas spirit. He throws himself into the task, but when it comes time to judge the trees, the Grinch is horrified to discover that he’s received only the second-place trophy. Can Cindy-Lou Who find the words to save the day? Replicating many of the original beats and wordplay of the original, this tale feels like less a sequel and more like a vaguely rewritten variation. Meanwhile, Ruiz’s art seeks to bridge the gap between the animated Chuck Jones version of the Grinch and the one depicted in the original book. This thankless task results in a strange uncanny valley between Seuss and Jones but does allow the artist a chance to colorize everything and lend some racial diversity to the Who population (Cindy-Lou is light-skinned). (This book was reviewed digitally.)
It’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how many mediocre sequels you can squeeze out of Seussian property. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9780593563168
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2023
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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