Clemmie in a trench coat, using what she’s learned, is worth the price of admission alone.
Ginger kitten Clemmie keeps her house mouse-free…or does she?
Smiling Clemmie is certain she is a brave and fearsome hunter of mice. She can stalk; she can chase; she can be patient and alert. She knows a mouse has a pink tail, whiskery nose and two round ears. She’s sure all mice are afraid of her. She thinks she sees a mouse’s tail. She stalks and attacks. It’s only a hat string. Of course! There are no mice in her house. The round ears under the bed? A teddy bear. That whiskery nose on the bathroom counter? A spider’s legs. But when she settles down for a nap, sounds draw her to the kitchen, where something strange is nibbling cookies. Under the sock on its head: round ears. Behind the fake nose: whiskers. Under the blue fluffy pom-pom: a pink tail! It’s a mouse, and it gets away…but it’s given Clemmie an idea that just might help her catch it! British author-illustrator Leathers’ overconfident kitten will easily win hearts. Storytimers and lap-sit listeners will enjoy spotting the sneaky, smart mouse, who’s always just ahead of the appealing feline heroine, disguising each physical feature as the kitten chases the look-alike.
Clemmie in a trench coat, using what she’s learned, is worth the price of admission alone. (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: April 28, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6912-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Jan. 9, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable.
You think you know shapes? Animals? Blend them together, and you might see them both a little differently!
What a mischievous twist on a concept book! With wordplay and a few groan-inducing puns, Neal creates connections among animals and shapes that are both unexpected and so seemingly obvious that readers might wonder why they didn’t see them all along. Of course, a “lazy turtle” meeting an oval would create the side-splitting combo of a “SLOW-VAL.” A dramatic page turn transforms a deeply saturated, clean-lined green oval by superimposing a head and turtle shell atop, with watery blue ripples completing the illusion. Minimal backgrounds and sketchy, impressionistic detailing keep the focus right on the zany animals. Beginning with simple shapes, the geometric forms become more complicated as the book advances, taking readers from a “soaring bird” that meets a triangle to become a “FLY-ANGLE” to a “sleepy lion” nonagon “YAWN-AGON.” Its companion text, Animal Colors, delves into color theory, this time creating entirely hybrid animals, such as the “GREEN WHION” with maned head and whale’s tail made from a “blue whale and a yellow lion.” It’s a compelling way to visualize color mixing, and like Animal Shapes, it’s got verve. Who doesn’t want to shout out that a yellow kangaroo/green moose blend is a “CHARTREUSE KANGAMOOSE”?
Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0534-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A Yuletide romp suffused with magic and good feeling.
The days leading up to Christmas are always full of adventure for Dasher the reindeer—and this year is no exception.
While gazing up at the northern lights, Dasher encounters a polar bear named George who marvels at her flying abilities and wishes he could soar through the wintery air, too. Alas, Dasher’s efforts to help George harness Christmas magic and take flight don’t go well. Tavares’ full-bleed digital art captures one of his failed attempts—one that ends with a dramatic splash “face-first into the icy water.” George is good-natured about the disappointment (“I suppose these four paws belong right here in the snow”), but Dasher later tells her mother that she wishes she could have taught her new friend to fly. As the story unfolds, colorful, expansive skyscapes support the central theme of flight, though overly large, white text boxes superimposed on the pictures somewhat undermine the visual power of the beautiful polar setting. Ultimately, light-skinned Santa Claus is the one who makes George’s Christmas wish come true—by inviting him for a ride in the sleigh once all the presents have been delivered. George is thrilled (“Exhilarating!” “Positively unforgettable!”), and Dasher’s glad to have shared in the moment.
A Yuletide romp suffused with magic and good feeling. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9781536236316
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
