No matter if the premise is a bit thin; the humorous art and the use of well-known phrases such as “You are not the boss of...
Flossy bosses everyone—even adults—until she meets the equally bossy Edward.
The artwork, which incorporates crayon, watercolor, and cutouts, is immediately eye-catching and endearing. The initial double-page spread shows a large-headed, pale-skinned, carrot-topped moppet—obviously Flossy—pointing authoritatively at a colorful array of dolls and stuffed animals strewn about her bedroom. Large letters declare “Flossy was bossy.” Underneath is a stack of dialogue bubbles, each colored differently and each with a different command, including “Sit up straight,” “Look at me,” and “Listen to me.” Faces of children in school and on the playground reveal multiple ethnicities, and Edward looks to be of East Asian descent. Readers will giggle at the dubious expression on the Flossy-bossed lunch lady’s face and may even gasp when Flossy tries to send her teacher to timeout. They will nod knowingly when Flossy—and later her friend/nemesis Edward—must sit in timeout themselves. Although the text is mostly accessible for beginning readers, there is some inconsistency in when to read up and down and when to read across pages—important considerations for novices. If there is an underlying lesson, it is that bossy children will tone down their ways when they meet their matches.
No matter if the premise is a bit thin; the humorous art and the use of well-known phrases such as “You are not the boss of me” will encourage rereads . (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: July 19, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-62779-358-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: March 29, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Sadly, the storytelling runs aground.
A little red sleigh has big Christmas dreams.
Although the detailed, full-color art doesn’t anthropomorphize the protagonist (which readers will likely identify as a sled and not a sleigh), a close third-person text affords the object thoughts and feelings while assigning feminine pronouns. “She longed to become Santa’s big red sleigh,” reads an early line establishing the sleigh’s motivation to leave her Christmas-shop home for the North Pole. Other toys discourage her, but she perseveres despite creeping self-doubt. A train and truck help the sleigh along, and when she wishes she were big, fast, and powerful like them, they offer encouragement and counsel patience. When a storm descends after the sleigh strikes out on her own, an unnamed girl playing in the snow brings her to a group of children who all take turns riding the sleigh down a hill. When the girl brings her home, the sleigh is crestfallen she didn’t reach the North Pole. A convoluted happily-ever-after ending shows a note from Santa that thanks the sleigh for giving children joy and invites her to the North Pole next year. “At last she understood what she was meant to do. She would build her life up spreading joy, one child at a time.” Will she leave the girl’s house to be gifted to other children? Will she stay and somehow also reach ever more children? Readers will be left wondering. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 31.8% of actual size.)
Sadly, the storytelling runs aground. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-72822-355-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2020
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say.
A dog-loving child encourages a less-than-enthusiastic younger one to imagine they’re both canines.
From the first declaration—“I’d be a big dog! And you’d be a little one!”—readers know who’s calling the shots. Initially, the protagonists cavort off the page and through the neighborhood together, performing doggy capers such as tail wagging, stick carrying, and dirt digging. But by the time they encounter a multitude of like-minded creatures at the dog park, the disgruntled small pup is exhibiting out-and-out rebellion: “Being a dog is YOUR idea! Sometimes I HAVE IDEAS TOO!” The narrative wraps up with the younger child pretending to be a different animal entirely—cleverly foreshadowed through subtle details in the illustrations. Even the endpapers—lively silhouettes of dogs in the beginning and many different animals in closing—extend the theme to suggest the imaginative possibilities of pretend play. Cheerful, lightly hued colors fit the whimsical mood, while expressive body language allows the art to tell the story with a minimum of words. Ending on a surprising note, with a sweet compromise between the two main characters, the tale gives both kids the freedom to embrace their own preferences and styles—while still enjoying their game.
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9780316581721
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
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