PEPITA ON PEPPER STREET/PEPITA EN LA CALLE PEPPER

Name: PEPITA ON PEPPER STREET/PEPITA EN LA CALLE PEPPER
Author: Ofelia Dumas Lachtman
ISBN: 978-1-55885-443-7

by Ofelia Dumas Lachtman & illustrated by Alex Pardo DeLange & translated by María Estela Monsivais ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A

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Pepita is lonely and unhappy about living on a new street. She translates her misery to rudeness when the neighborly old lady, the blonde woman from down the street and the mailman all introduce themselves by asking Pepita if she is new; Pepita’s response is always the same: “No, I’m not, you’re the one who’s new because I’ve never seen you before.” When finally Katie Ann, the little girl whom Pepita saw on her first day in the neighborhood, returns from a visit with her grandmother, Pepita is pleased to accept this peer as a new friend and boasts of how she’s been “visiting” with the neighbors. The lengthy, well-translated bilingual text and Pardo DeLange’s detailed, cartoon-style paintings of a Latino family living on an American suburban street bring out the essence of the story. Its message, of the importance of coping with the stress of moving by finding new friends, is flawed, however, with its portrayal of a protagonist who persists in her insolence. The lack of a positive model will make explanation and discussion necessary. (Picture book. 5-7)

Pub Date: N/A

ISBN: 978-1-55885-443-7

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Piñata Books/Arte Público

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2008

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
THE TRUTH ABOUT LAS MARIPOSAS
by Ofelia Dumas Lachtman

- BOOK REVIEW
PEPITA PACKS UP/PEPITA EMPACA
by Ofelia Dumas Lachtman & illustrated by Alex Pardo DeLange & translated by Gabriela Baeza Ventura

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BECAUSE YOUR DADDY LOVES YOU

by Andrew Clements & illustrated by R.W. Alley ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 23, 2005

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Give this child’s-eye view of a day at the beach with an attentive father high marks for coziness: “When your ball blows across the sand and into the ocean and starts to drift away, your daddy could say, Didn’t I tell you not to play too close to the waves? But he doesn’t. He wades out into the cold water. And he brings your ball back to the beach and plays roll and catch with you.” Alley depicts a moppet and her relaxed-looking dad (to all appearances a single parent) in informally drawn beach and domestic settings: playing together, snuggling up on the sofa and finally hugging each other goodnight. The third-person voice is a bit distancing, but it makes the togetherness less treacly, and Dad’s mix of love and competence is less insulting, to parents and children both, than Douglas Wood’s What Dads Can’t Do (2000), illus by Doug Cushman. (Picture book. 5-7)

Pub Date: May 23, 2005

ISBN: 0-618-00361-4

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Clarion Books

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2005

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
THE FRIENDSHIP WAR
by Andrew Clements

- BOOK REVIEW
THE LOSERS CLUB
by Andrew Clements

- BOOK REVIEW
ABOUT AVERAGE
by Andrew Clements & illustrated by Mark Elliott

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THE COOL BEAN MAKES A SPLASH

From the I Can Read! series

by Jory John ; illustrated by Pete Oswald ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 26, 2024

Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind.

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The cool beans again step up to do a timorous fellow legume a fava…this time at the pool.

Will a rash decision to tackle the multistory super-slide lead to another embarrassing watery fail for our shy protagonist? Nope, for up the stairs right behind comes a trio of cool beans, each a different type and color, all clad in nothing but dark shades. They make an offer: “It’s not as scary if you go with friends!” As the knobby nerd explains once the thrilling ride down is done, “They all realized that I just needed some encouragement and support.” Just to make sure that both cool and uncool readers get the message, the narrator lets us know that “there are plenty of kind folks who have my back. They’re always there when I need them.” The beany bonhomie doesn’t end at the bottom of the slide, with all gliding down to the shallow end of the pool (“3 INCHES. NO DIVING”) for a splashy finale. This latest early reader starring characters from John and Oswald’s immensely popular Food Group series will be a hit with fans. Fun accessories, such as a bean who rocks pink cat-eye frames, add some pizzazz to the chromatically and somatotypically varied cast.

Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind. (Easy reader. 5-7)