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KAGUYA, PRINCESS OF THE MOON

Name: KAGUYA, PRINCESS OF THE MOON
Author: Oniric.co

developed by Oniric.co ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 30, 2013

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The 10th-century Japanese folk tale about the shining moon princess will enchant young readers, even though technical problems mar this adaptation.

Long ago in ancient Japan, a bamboo cutter discovers a baby girl hidden inside a glowing stalk of bamboo. Taketori and his wife name the girl Kaguya, and she quickly grows to become as “lovely and pure as the morning.” Noble suitors soon arrive, drawn by Kaguya’s radiant beauty, and the young woman sets them arduous tasks to complete, as she cannot reject them outright. The emperor even arrives to ask for her hand in marriage, but Kaguya sadly reveals that she must return to her father, the King of the Moon, as her exile on Earth has now passed. This adaptation follows the traditional tale, although no source notes are provided, and it is available in Spanish, Japanese and English, narrated with word highlighting in each language. The richly colored illustrations are a mix of Western cartoon and Japanese anime styles; interactive features, such as coloring the princess’s kimono, likewise feel ambivalent at times, often doing little to advance the story. Navigation is hampered by the lack of a menu button; at the end of the app, readers must manually flip pages back to the beginning. Nevertheless, the enduring appeal of this ancient folk tale shines through from beginning to end. (iPad storybook app. 3-8)

Pub Date: Oct. 30, 2013

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Oniric

Review Posted Online: Dec. 10, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2014

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THE VERY LONELY FIREFLY

by Eric Carle & illustrated by Eric Carle ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 1995

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Twenty-five years after The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1968) ate his way through a remarkable book, another Very book, about a firefly in search of company, shows a master of bold, dramatic design in search of a story. A lone firefly "born as the sun sets" follows a family's candle, flashlight, and lantern to a quarreling dog, cat, and owl, whose eyes reflect lights. The family drives to a fireworks display. The firefly follows their headlights and finds a sky full of fireflies, tails blinking. With or without batteries, Carle's creations have plenty of spark; what he needs is a warmer, friendlier story. Except for the endearing firefly and owl, the characters are static and the balloons of text out of place in the artwork. The finished book is to include battery-powered flashing tails; an author's note appears on the book jacket. (Picture book. 3-8)

Pub Date: June 1, 1995

ISBN: 0-399-22774-1

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Philomel

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1995

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE FOOD?
edited by Eric Carle

- BOOK REVIEW
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE BUG?
edited by Eric Carle

- BOOK REVIEW
MY FIRST I SEE YOU
by Eric Carle ; illustrated by Eric Carle

- IN THE NEWS
Children’s Book Creator Eric Carle Dies at 91

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TURKEY'S VALENTINE SURPRISE

From the Turkey Trouble series , Vol. 6

by Wendi Silvano ; illustrated by Lee Harper ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 13, 2022

The spirit of Valentine’s Day shines bright in this caring community.

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Gobble, gobble! Grab this farmyard story full of Valentine’s Day puns.

The animals on Farmer Jake’s farm are exchanging valentines. Delighted by a card from a secret admirer (“You are like no otter!”), Turkey decides to make clever valentines and surreptitiously deliver them to the other animals. Luckily, he has some punny inspiration for perfect Valentine’s Day messages. “You’re purr-fect.” “You’re dog-gone delightful.” “You’re toad-ally awesome!” As Turkey dons a different disguise for each delivery, the story offers a refrain that young listeners will soon chant. “His costume wasn’t bad. In fact, Turkey looked just like a cat…almost.” (The refrain changes slightly with each disguise.) Unfortunately, the other animals always recognize Turkey and greet him with a pun. But the animals also compliment his valentine and help to create a pun for his next one. Sadly, the animals always know who the valentines are from, so Turkey decides to “gobble, gobble, give up!” Returning home to read his own valentines, Turkey has an idea, and he quickly creates a festive and delicious surprise for the Valentine’s dance. Readers will have to decide if Turkey has finally managed to surprise the other animals. Boldfaced puns within the story are easy to spot, and Turkey’s cards also feature puns along with adorable illustrations. Detailed watercolor and pencil illustrations bring to life a farm filled with loving friends and highlight Turkey’s clever and ever changing costumes. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

The spirit of Valentine’s Day shines bright in this caring community. (Picture book. 4-7)