by Patty Bowman ; illustrated by Patty Bowman ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 26, 2015
His owner’s gift of a top hat and cape that exactly match the ones he’s lost along the way gives the narrative a circular...
Hamweenie the marmalade cat makes good on his desire to escape the confines of his everyday life.
Not much has changed in this follow-up to Bowman’s earlier, decidedly quirky depiction of this pampered yet disaffected pet in The Amazing Hamweenie (2012). Muted colors, odd angles, and just slightly off-brand names crowd the pen-and-ink–and-watercolor illustrations, while the deadpan narration once again slyly contradicts the action shown. Hamweenie’s outsized ego finds him daydreaming of stardom while he’s standing in his litter box in the closet. Meanwhile, his actual existence is almost as far-fetched as his imaginary adventures. He claims to follow “a strict diet” but is shown gorging on pizza, fast food, and sweet snacks. A circus poster on the refrigerator door prompts him to action, and he handily escapes down the laundry chute and out through a basement window. A quick (if unlikely) bus ride later, Hamweenie arrives at the Darnum and Dailey circus, where he (mis)interprets every encounter as a reflection of his talent and star status. Narrowly escaping being eaten by a variety of animals, he’s nonetheless nonplussed to be scooped up and toted back home. The only thing that’s changed from the first outing is the setting.
His owner’s gift of a top hat and cape that exactly match the ones he’s lost along the way gives the narrative a circular feel that seems quite fitting for this repetitive outing. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 26, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-399-25689-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2015
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by Patty Bowman & illustrated by Patty Bowman
by Craig Smith ; illustrated by Katz Cowley ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2010
Hee haw.
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The print version of a knee-slapping cumulative ditty.
In the song, Smith meets a donkey on the road. It is three-legged, and so a “wonky donkey” that, on further examination, has but one eye and so is a “winky wonky donkey” with a taste for country music and therefore a “honky-tonky winky wonky donkey,” and so on to a final characterization as a “spunky hanky-panky cranky stinky-dinky lanky honky-tonky winky wonky donkey.” A free musical recording (of this version, anyway—the author’s website hints at an adults-only version of the song) is available from the publisher and elsewhere online. Even though the book has no included soundtrack, the sly, high-spirited, eye patch–sporting donkey that grins, winks, farts, and clumps its way through the song on a prosthetic metal hoof in Cowley’s informal watercolors supplies comical visual flourishes for the silly wordplay. Look for ready guffaws from young audiences, whether read or sung, though those attuned to disability stereotypes may find themselves wincing instead or as well.
Hee haw. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: May 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-545-26124-1
Page Count: 26
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Dec. 28, 2018
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by Craig Smith ; illustrated by Katz Cowley
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by Doug MacLeod ; illustrated by Craig Smith
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by Jennifer Ward ; illustrated by Steve Jenkins ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 18, 2014
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
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by Jennifer Ward ; illustrated by Alexander Vidal
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by Jennifer Ward ; illustrated by Lisa Congdon
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by Jennifer Ward ; illustrated by Diana Sudyka
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