A tame, sweetly illustrated seasonal opposites book.
A Valentine’s Day–themed profession of unconditional love for children, organized as an opposites book.
The interesting construction of the title segues to a list of adjectives: be you big, small, short, tall, skinny, round, never lost, always found…you are a “Valentine delight.” Rappen’s fanciful, friendly, lineless watercolor art—illustrating concepts like big (a light-skinned blond child swims near an enormous blue whale) and small(a brown-skinned child smaller than a squirrel squats under a mushroom)—will entertain and inspire imagination. In this world, children could even be flowers or trees. Some images appear to rely on gender stereotypes (“rugged mountain” is a boy, and “calmest sea” is a girl; “shy” is a girl with deer horns, and “proud” is a boy riding a dragon). Though Howell’s narrative is ostensibly from a parent’s perspective and the text seems ideal for a lap-sit between reader and child, the illustrations nevertheless depict a girl courting a boy as the expansive love described in the first section of the book narrows its scope down to Valentine themes. The large sans-serif font enables easy legibility for early readers. The enjoyable visual details prompt discussion of the concepts and provoke dialogue between parent and child.
A tame, sweetly illustrated seasonal opposites book.Pub Date: May 3, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-950169-74-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Spork
Review Posted Online: June 17, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
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BOOK REVIEW
Another Seuss-chimera joins the ranks of the unforgettable Herlar and with the advent of the Grinch— a sort of Yule Ghoul who lives in a cave just north of who-ville. While all the Who's made ready on Christmas Eve the Grinch donned a Santa-Claus disguise. In gurgling verse at a galloping gait, we learn how the Grinch stole the "presents, the ribbons, the wrappings, the tags, the tinsel and trappings," from all the Who's. But the Grinch's heart (two sizes too small) melted just in time when he realized that the Who's enjoyed Christmas without any externals. Youngsters will be in transports over the goofy gaiety of Dr. Seuss's first book about a villain — easily the best Christmas-cad since Scrooge. Inimitable Seuss illustrations of the Grinch's dog Max disguised as a reindeer are in black and white with touches of red. Irrepressible and irresistible.
Pub Date: Oct. 12, 1957
ISBN: 0394800796
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Oct. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1957
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