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MISS PINKELTINK'S PURSE

Name: MISS PINKELTINK'S PURSE
Author: Patty Brozo
ISBN: 978-0-88448-626-8

by Patty Brozo ; illustrated by Ana Ochoa ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 4, 2018

Simplistic but heartfelt, earnest, and a discussion starter.

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The concept of homelessness is brought down to the youngest child’s level.

It’s not until the third spread, after the newly arrived, plump, gray-haired woman has mowed a swath through town with her heavy bag, that readers get the first hint that Miss Pinkeltink may be homeless. She explains, “Sometimes it’s a blessing, sometimes it’s a curse, / but all that I have, I have in my purse.” Her heart’s in the right place; she searches her bag for bits and pieces to give to townspeople (though most are a little off, such as the comb she hands to a bald man). Finally the bag is empty save for the “pleasure her gifts could provide.” And then she beds down under a willow tree. Young Zoey sees her and enlists the townspeople to help. Seemingly the next day, the racially diverse people lead Miss Pinkeltink in a parade, gifting her various household goods just as she gifted them her small treasures, until they reach their destination: “Your purse needs a home.” The rhymes, the bright colors, the innocuous and eclectic items contained in the purse, and, most of all, Miss Pinkeltink’s sweet-old-lady demeanor and eccentric dress keep the tone of the book light and the protagonist from seeming pitiable. And though the solution may feel ludicrously easy to adult readers, this is a nonthreatening and simple introduction to the topic for young children who have no prior exposure to homelessness. No explanation is given for Miss Pinkeltink’s situation. Miss Pinkeltink is white, and Zoey has light brown skin and straight brown hair.

Simplistic but heartfelt, earnest, and a discussion starter. (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: Dec. 4, 2018

ISBN: 978-0-88448-626-8

Page Count: 36

Publisher: Tilbury House

Review Posted Online: Sept. 16, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2018

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
THE BUDDY BENCH
by Patty Brozo ; illustrated by Mike Deas

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HEDGEHOGS DON'T WEAR UNDERWEAR

by Marissa Valdez ; illustrated by Marissa Valdez ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2025

Sure to have little ones giggling.

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Jacques is a hedgehog with a big secret: “I wear real, bona fide underwear.”

Our narrator received a mysterious package one day; an illustration shows a pair of underwear tied to a balloon with a note “from the Universe” floating down into Jacques’ burrow. Hedgehogs don’t wear underwear, however. Will Jacques be shunned? Jacques worries but comes to a decision: “I have to wear them. When I do I feel special.” Determined, Jacques, who’s been invited to a party, makes a dramatic entrance, with undies in hand. Jacques’ declaration (“I WEAR UNDERWEAR”) is met with remarks of dismay, before another hedgehog opens up about similar fears and shows off a pair of cowboy boots. More hedgehogs introduce themselves with their own confessions. The story ends with Jacques unveiling a painting of the underwear in a gallery filled with hedgehogs wearing all sorts of attire. Though the book is simple in plot, characters, and setting, it wins in its balance of bathroom humor, dramatic storytelling, and celebrations of individual expression. French words are peppered throughout, adding to the fun without detracting from the story for those unfamiliar with the language. The cartoonish illustrations brim with fun; Valdez relies heavily on geometric shapes (triangle noses for the hedgehogs; huge circles for their eyes). Details such as speech bubbles and recurring turtle and snake characters contribute to the outlandish humor.

Sure to have little ones giggling. (Picture book. 3-5)

Pub Date: April 1, 2025

ISBN: 9781250814388

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
MAYA'S BIG QUESTION
by Meena Harris ; illustrated by Marissa Valdez

- BOOK REVIEW
WHO'S IN CHARGE?
by Stephanie Allain & Jenny Klion ; illustrated by Marissa Valdez

- BOOK REVIEW
HATTIE HARMONY: OPENING NIGHT
by Elizabeth Olsen & Robbie Arnett ; illustrated by Marissa Valdez

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)