The worthy theme needs a better vehicle than this to carry it to its audience.
An undistinguished animal story teaches the importance of kids accepting themselves and others for who they are.
Pointy the hedgehog and Pokey the porcupine can’t make friends with the other forest animals because of their sharp quills, so their friend Spinner (a weaver bird) stitches shirts out of hay and grass to help them hide their quills. When some wolves threaten the animals at a birthday party for a little rabbit, Pointy and Pokey use their quills to protect the revelers and are hailed as heroes. Grandpa Rabbit concludes, “You should not hide your precious quills. You are good, as you are!” The message is fine, but the characterization and plot are unexceptional. Pokey is supposedly naughty, and Pointy is likewise shy, but there is never any evidence of this. Moreover, the plot depends on the myth that porcupines "throw" their quills, giving this ability to hedgehogs as well. Swipe navigation works well enough for getting forward and back, with a pop-up menu that will bring viewers back to the homepage. Rudimentary effects are mostly limited to animal sounds or a stream of colored confetti that is released when the screen is touched. Some pages are designed with split panels, offering some interest, but the cartoon-style artwork is uninspired. Words are underlined as the narrator voices the text.
The worthy theme needs a better vehicle than this to carry it to its audience. (iPad storybook app. 3-7)Pub Date: Jan. 4, 2012
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: PixelMat
Review Posted Online: Feb. 14, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2012
A visually striking, engaging picture book that sends the message that everyone counts.
A playful counting book also acts as a celebration of family and human diversity.
Shannon’s text is delivered in spare, rhythmic, lilting verse that begins with one and counts up to 10 as it presents different groupings of things and people in individual families, always emphasizing the unitary nature of each combination. “One is six. One line of laundry. One butterfly’s legs. One family.” Gomez’s richly colored pictures clarify and expand on all that the text lists: For “six,” a picture showing six members of a multigenerational family of color includes a line of laundry with six items hanging from it outside of their windows, as well as the painting of a six-legged butterfly that a child in the family is creating. While text never directs the art to depict diverse individuals and family constellations, Gomez does just this in her illustrations. Interracial families are included, as are depictions of men with their arms around each other, and a Sikh man wearing a turban. This inclusive spirit supports the text’s culminating assertion that “One is one and everyone. One earth. One world. One family.”
A visually striking, engaging picture book that sends the message that everyone counts. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 26, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-374-30003-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Frances Foster/Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The spirit of Valentine’s Day shines bright in this caring community.
Gobble, gobble! Grab this farmyard story full of Valentine’s Day puns.
The animals on Farmer Jake’s farm are exchanging valentines. Delighted by a card from a secret admirer (“You are like no otter!”), Turkey decides to make clever valentines and surreptitiously deliver them to the other animals. Luckily, he has some punny inspiration for perfect Valentine’s Day messages. “You’re purr-fect.” “You’re dog-gone delightful.” “You’re toad-ally awesome!” As Turkey dons a different disguise for each delivery, the story offers a refrain that young listeners will soon chant. “His costume wasn’t bad. In fact, Turkey looked just like a cat…almost.” (The refrain changes slightly with each disguise.) Unfortunately, the other animals always recognize Turkey and greet him with a pun. But the animals also compliment his valentine and help to create a pun for his next one. Sadly, the animals always know who the valentines are from, so Turkey decides to “gobble, gobble, give up!” Returning home to read his own valentines, Turkey has an idea, and he quickly creates a festive and delicious surprise for the Valentine’s dance. Readers will have to decide if Turkey has finally managed to surprise the other animals. Boldfaced puns within the story are easy to spot, and Turkey’s cards also feature puns along with adorable illustrations. Detailed watercolor and pencil illustrations bring to life a farm filled with loving friends and highlight Turkey’s clever and ever changing costumes. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
The spirit of Valentine’s Day shines bright in this caring community. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Dec. 13, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5420-2366-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Two Lions
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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