Snoring usually isn’t this much fun.
During the South American jungle’s hot afternoon, the jaguar decides to celebrate a welcome breeze with a nap and instructs a coati to wake him in 10 minutes.
Scared of the jaguar, the coati agrees but, wanting a short snooze himself, enlists a cockatiel to wake him in time to rouse the jaguar. The story builds as the cockatiel, wishing to take part in the midafternoon siesta, brings a sloth into the plan. Alas, the sloth, who can barely stay awake, cannot find anyone to wake her and must keep her eyes open minute by minute. “This was such torture for the poor sloth! / But she had given her word to the cockatiel, / who had promised the coati, / who had promised the jaguar, (who, no one was particularly thrilled to see angry).” Of course, sloth finally dozes off with a snore so loud that it wakes everyone just in time. The story’s repetition creates anticipation for the thunderous surprise ending, which sees the startled animals running away while sloth continues her sonorous slumber. The amusing undertone of the story is enhanced with collage-style artwork resembling large construction-paper cutouts in muted colors. Each animal is native to the region and is depicted with convincingly droopy eyelids. Translated from the original Spanish, this should become a new favorite for multiple readings; kids will enjoy reciting the final countdown of minutes and that explosive, page-filling snore.
Snoring usually isn’t this much fun. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: June 12, 2017
ISBN: 978-84-945415-3-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: NubeOcho
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
An elegant exploration of an ever-popular subject.
With the same high spirits and elemental simplicity that lights up his One Spotted Giraffe (2012), Horácek pairs up smiling animals to show contrasts in size, shape or behavior.
Floating on white or variegated monochrome backgrounds, the 20 creatures are all actual cutouts or images of cutouts, depicted with informal pen and brush strokes and a keen eye for natural detail and coloration. The animals alternate between posing on a flat page and hiding behind big gatefold flaps or foldouts. The latter set, like the “LOUD LION” roaring at a “quiet rabbit” and the “bouncy kangaroo” leaping away from a “STILL SLOTH,” shift or rise as the flap is opened. (The labels, which are the only text, vary in size and typography.) Thanks to the large trim size, the “TALL GIRAFFE” positively towers over a “short dog,” and the humongous elephant revealed at the end (opposite a “small ladybug”) is sure to draw delighted “whoa”s from young viewers as its multicreased portrait opens out. This is a less populous but far sturdier alternative to Robert Crowther’s Opposites (2nd edition, 2005).
An elegant exploration of an ever-popular subject. (Informational pop-up. 3-5)Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6776-4
Page Count: 20
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2013
An admirable message delivered in a lackluster manner—pass.
Real love is expressed through the many seemingly small acts that take place every day.
Brown uses textured paper to create digital collages that show bear, bunny and fox families engaged in a wide range of activities. Usually, an older or bigger animal is helping or playing with a younger or smaller one. Occasionally, the younger ones assist one another, as in climbing a tree or untangling knotted fur. Playing hide–and-seek, applying a bandage, freeing a kite from a tree and tying shoelaces are some gestures of real love. Lawler, perhaps in an attempt to stay true to the rhyme structure, provides at least one singularly odd example: “Love plays lion in a crouch / and snuggles closer on the couch.” One side of the spread shows a young bunny about to pounce on the ball of yarn his mother is knitting from, while the next page features the two side by side with the little rabbit curled up under a blanket. In the end, the message is clear: “Love does all these little things / to fill your heart until it sings. / Love is real the whole day through. / It’s always there— // from me to you.” Although the art may charm the preschool set, the saccharine and singsong text fall flat.
An admirable message delivered in a lackluster manner—pass. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Dec. 23, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-06-224170-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Sept. 17, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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