bookshelf

JACOB'S FANTASTIC FLIGHT

Name: JACOB'S FANTASTIC FLIGHT
Author: Philip Waechter
ISBN: 978-1-73312-126-2

by Philip Waechter ; illustrated by Philip Waechter ; translated by Elisabeth Lauffer ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 13, 2020

Highflying humor and heart.

bookshelf

Young Jacob, uniquely able to fly, has a big adventure with birds on his way to join his parents on a Mediterranean vacation.

Jacob’s peculiarity is introduced with humor and warmth: His parents hoped their baby would start crawling, but “he just flew off instead.” The text then assures readers that the parents quickly overcame anxiety over Jacob’s difference, loving him because that is what parents do. The lightheartedness continues as the mother and father easily agree to let their child fly alone for their upcoming vacation while the parents fly by airplane. Jacob bonds with various animals during his solo flight, eventually joining a flock of 83 birds. When Hubert—one of those birds—is nabbed by “a notorious birdcatcher,” Jacob and the birds become partners in avian heroics. Extra fun: Children will enjoy counting 15 “cranky cows,” 31 “snacky squirrels,” and, of course, those 83 “birds on their way to Africa.” The translated text is full of understated humor and funny words, such as shenanigansand bamboozled. The comical cartoon art matches the high quality and whimsy of the text. There is a magical double-page spread that shows Jacob mostly submerged in a woodland pond and surrounded by many varieties of happy, celebrating birds. The story comes full circle as Jacob and a new companion reunite with Jacob’s parents. Jacob and his parents are White, probably middle-class Germans.

Highflying humor and heart. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-73312-126-2

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Blue Dot Kids Press

Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ACTION & ADVENTURE FICTION | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
SAILING TO AMERICA
by Robert Gernhardt ; illustrated by Philip Waechter ; translated by David Henry Wilson

- BOOK REVIEW
ROSIE AND THE NIGHTMARES
by Philip Waechter & illustrated by Philip Waechter

- BOOK REVIEW
ME!
by Philip Waechter

bookshelf

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...

bookshelf

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)

Pub Date: June 21, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
A PERFECT PLACE TO PLAY
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Jim Valeri

- BOOK REVIEW
ON THE FIRST DAY OF FIRST GRADE
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Sarah Jennings

- BOOK REVIEW
FIVE LITTLE BUNNIES
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

bookshelf

THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING

by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2014

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...

bookshelf

Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.

First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)