This book may spark inspiration—dads best hide their treasures.
A young girl makes Daddy a sandwich with all his favorite ingredients….
But not all of them are edible. The first couple spreads will be all too familiar to any caregiver: the little girl repeats “Daddy” louder and louder to try to get her father’s attention, but soccer on TV is distracting him. When he steals away to the kitchen for a cookie, she offers to make him a sandwich, and he offhandedly says yes (maybe he is thinking she means a pretend sandwich). But while this sandwich does have bread on top and bottom, the middle is filled with all sorts of things Dad loves: butter, a block of stinky cheese, a whole tomato—and his cellphone, Mum’s bubble bath (“he sits in there for ages”), his tool belt, etc. And the pièce de résistance? “More than anything, Daddy loves… // ME!” The book ends when Dad walks into the kitchen to view her final creation: “Daddy! Your sandwich is ready!” The adorably scribbly round-headed, big-eyed, white cherub with pink cheeks and brown pigtails is the very picture of innocence, though readers might suspect she’s not by the end. It’s difficult to tell if she knows better or she is truly naïve, as she sneaks away with Daddy’s slippers and hides behind his chair to slip away the TV remote.
This book may spark inspiration—dads best hide their treasures. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: May 16, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-571-31183-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Review Posted Online: March 19, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Brill’s tale tips the didactic scale, but the importance of rules needs to reach dragon-loving kids as well.
A tiny dragon wants to fly—and picks up important life lessons as well.
Little Wing is determined. Today will be the day to finally fly! But with wings fluttering and tiny legs pumping, it always ends the same way: “Flip. / Flap. / Flop….” Jumping from the top step? “Flip. / Flap. / Flop….” What about running down a hill for extra speed? “Flip. / Flap. / Flop….” But a dragon never gives up. Suddenly, at the most unexpected moment, Little Wing is “Flip! / Flap! / FLYING!” Little Wing’s mama is proud, but she needs to impart three very important flying rules. Little Wing, however, is too excited to listen. The little tot flies too high (the opposite of the first rule), flies too far (the second), and flies off without Mama (the third). The tiny dragon is now in a dark forest, all alone. Bravado gone, and lip quivering, Little Wing is “Flip. / Flap. / Frightened!” Luckily, Mama is not far behind. Told in first person (first dragon?), Little Wing’s journey from frustration to egocentric bluster to fear seems a bit linear and quick but is true to a toddler’s sensibilities. Bell’s digital illustrations (combining pencils, watercolors, and Photoshop) depict a bigheaded red dragonlet with tiny purple wings; Little Wing looks the opposite of aerodynamic, but that’s part of the charm.
Brill’s tale tips the didactic scale, but the importance of rules needs to reach dragon-loving kids as well. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 14, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-236033-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: March 29, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2016
A tale gently told of finding our inner strengths.
Once upon a short time ago, there was a girl named Carlota who had a unique power: everyone understood her just from her gestures and glances.
So this Spanish import’s fair-skinned protagonist never talks—until one day, she needs to. Carlota's power of communicating without talking works when she's hungry; when she's on the playground and doesn't feel like running anymore or wants to play a new game; and even in the classroom when her teacher asks a question. (Like Carlota, her classmates, teacher, and family all present as white.) But one day she accidentally gets locked into the pantry, with only jars, cans, pots, and a broomstick with bristles full of fluff. As Carlota realizes her communication method will not work on these inanimate objects, she must overcome her fear and try something she has never done before: talk! The whimsical, tongue-in-cheek narration asks readers questions (“Are you ready to know?”) and adds little asides (“Yes, I know I have already said this, but...”), making readers feel the story is being told just to them. Urberuaga's simply drawn illustrations, heavily outlined in black and using a richly saturated palette, perfectly complement the charm and humor of the story. Readers will want to watch out for Tom the mouse, Carlota's friend, and his antics while Carlota is locked in the pantry.
A tale gently told of finding our inner strengths. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: June 6, 2016
ISBN: 978-84-942929-5-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: NubeOcho
Review Posted Online: March 15, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2016
© 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.
