Gender stereotypes have been a widely explored subject since William’s Doll, if not before; readers are encouraged to seek...
Harrison Dwight fights dragons but not his feelings.
With unpoetic rhymes, a sledgehammer of an already-overdone message, and cartoonish illustrations that mirror the text rather than extending it, this text barely meets any standards of the picture-book form. It’s easy to understand, at least; rhyming couplets (with shaky scansion) use simple words, with concepts so excruciatingly spelled out that readers won’t be left wondering what conclusions they’re supposed to draw. At first the narrative focuses on Harrison Dwight, a boy with floppy hair who is “a ballet dancer. I’m also a knight!” After this brief introduction, the story tells readers what to do and how to feel: “Fighting is no way to solve what’s gone wrong. / If we just talk it out, we can all get along,” and “Girls and boys both sometimes feel sad. / It’s a brave thing to cry; don’t fear that it’s bad.” Gender-nonconforming behavior in picture books is typically reduced to depictions of cis boys engaging in typically feminine activities, and this book breaks no ground in that regard, even with a few depictions of girls and women watching football and discovering cold fusion. Harrison has beige skin and brown hair; his blonde, white mom and light-brown–skinned, black-haired dad suggest he may be biracial.
Gender stereotypes have been a widely explored subject since William’s Doll, if not before; readers are encouraged to seek out something, anything, before this cack-handed attempt. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 23, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-250-13858-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Imprint
Review Posted Online: Feb. 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A good choice for offering comfort and support to a budding perfectionist.
Can anyone be perfect?
Beatrice Bottomwell always does everything right. “Most people in town didn’t even know Beatrice’s name. They just called her ‘The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes,’ because for as long as anyone could remember, she never did.” One Thursday though, she almost does something wrong (she drops some eggs while cooking at school but catches them just in time). Straightforward text describes Beatrice’s predicament as, unnerved, she ponders her almost-error and begins to worry. What if she really does do something wrong? Brightly colored watercolors and gentle humor combine to portray Beatrice’s eventful day, her growing fear and her sprightly pet hamster. During a school talent show, Beatrice finally makes a real mistake—in front of everyone. How will she cope? Learning how to relax enough to laugh and simply be herself just might do the trick. While the plot is predictable and the solution to the problem fairly pat, this is a well-intentioned story, full of acceptance and goodwill. It will be especially useful in a therapeutic setting; it may be a real comfort to a child who is afraid of making mistakes, while children dealing with similar issues will also find reassurance here.
A good choice for offering comfort and support to a budding perfectionist. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5544-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2011
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