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BEASTLY PUZZLES

A BRAIN-BOGGLING ANIMAL GUESSING GAME

Definitely bamboozling—but in a good way, as exercises in unconventional logic.

A natural-history guessing game, with sets of “bamboozling” hints to what animals lurk behind gatefold flaps.

Poliquin challenges readers to imagine which animal could be made up of, for instance, dinosaur feet, feather dusters, “a lion-killing kick,” three billiard balls, and a handful of like components. Lifting the foldover reveals the answer—an ostrich—along with explanations (the balls represent the bird’s eyes and brain) and additional facts, all delivered in a breezy style: During dry spells, ostriches “get moisture from grasses, roots, leaves, and an unlucky lizard or two.” Eggenschwiler realistically portrays the 12 animals and the sometimes-outré clues (a blender turns out to represent a tarantula’s digestive juices; a “3-legged woman” notionally suggests a red kangaroo’s ambling gait) in contrasting hues over corrugated monochrome scenes of mildly cluttered rooms, workshops, garages, and like settings. The author’s closing note on the exotic portmanteau creatures sometimes found in old travelogues points both to the source of her inspiration and a promising line of inquiry for budding naturalists with a historical bent.

Definitely bamboozling—but in a good way, as exercises in unconventional logic. (glossary) (Informational novelty. 8-10)

Pub Date: May 7, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-77138-913-6

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Kids Can

Review Posted Online: Feb. 5, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2019

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THE GOLDEN SWIFT

From the Silver Arrow series , Vol. 2

Gentle, encouraging, witty fantasy that may soothe readers suffering from climate anxiety.

Children with magical talking steam trains are thrilled by their clever new plan to rescue endangered animals.

Eleven-year-old Kate absolutely adores her secret job—helping animals in need by using the magical locomotive that was a gift from her billionaire wizard uncle. Kate loves riding the Silver Arrow with Uncle Herbert; her brother, Tom; and the talking animals they escort to safe places. But now Uncle Herbert is missing, 9-year-old Tom seems more interested in hapkido than their supernatural train, and Kate’s struggling socially and academically thanks to her eco-anxiety. No matter how many animals she helps, no matter how many adults proclaim that climate change is a critical issue, the environment keeps getting worse. One night Kate discovers another train driving on the magical railroad: The Golden Swift is conducted by her classmate Jag, who thinks rescuing stranded creatures isn’t sufficiently radical. When Kate joins him, she feels more inspired and more righteous than ever before. This time, she’s actually making the world better! Kate’s unhappy discoveries of unintended consequences and the moral complexities of her activism are softened by humor. The snarky banter of the talking locomotive is an understated delight, as is the train constructed with, among others, candy and ice cream cars, an invisible car, and a dojo car. Kate and Tom are White; Jag is described as having dark skin and black hair and possibly being Indian. Charming illustrations enhance the text.

Gentle, encouraging, witty fantasy that may soothe readers suffering from climate anxiety. (Fantasy. 8-10)

Pub Date: May 3, 2022

ISBN: 978-0-316-28354-0

Page Count: 272

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: March 28, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2022

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SECONDHAND DOGS

A sensitive, satisfying, and intriguing canine tale.

The arrival of a new dog threatens the stability, happiness, and safety of an established pack.

Gus, the first dog adopted by Miss Lottie, watches out for her growing pack of homeless canines: Tank, an aging bulldog; Roo, a nervous, hyperactive hunting dog; and Moon Pie, an engaging young pug. He appreciates Quinn, the neighbor boy who helps Miss Lottie care for her animals, and even gets along with Ghost, the elusive cat. When Miss Lottie introduces Decker, a confident, sleek, arrogant new dog, Gus knows it’s his job as pack leader to approve each new member, but he hesitates, as Decker unaccountably triggers negative feelings. With the other dogs waiting, Gus indecisively acquiesces, but his misgivings soon prove justified. A toxic bully, Decker rapidly undermines Gus, maligns Tank, intimidates Roo, and tricks Moon Pie into running away. Suddenly, Miss Lottie’s happy family shatters, and Gus knows he must rally everyone to search for missing Moon Pie before it’s too late. The story unfolds from the multiple, alternating perspectives of Gus, Tank, Roo, Moon Pie, Decker, Ghost, Miss Lottie, and Quinn as their personal backstories and motivations gradually emerge, adding depth and insight. Pervading themes of bullying, leadership, loyalty, and family—among humans and canines alike—raise important issues while the comic-style illustrations feature character cameos and highlight key scenes. Human characters default to White.

A sensitive, satisfying, and intriguing canine tale. (Animal fiction. 8-10)

Pub Date: July 6, 2021

ISBN: 978-0-06-298918-5

Page Count: 256

Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 16, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2021

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