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 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
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