Although Marcus Moore’s moving day begins lonely and empty; it closes with a new best friend found on a bustling block. While Bond’s barely there prose supplies a bouncy rhythm and mood, the acrylic illustrations are the key to telling the story and portraying the gamut of moving day emotions. The art is dominated by slate-colored stoops and sidewalks, and littered with the lively details of the urban setting—a crowded page often faced with a nearly blank one—only a lonely Marcus set in the middle of all that white space. Then a noisy girl knocks on his cardboard house, they wait out a summer storm together, and finally off they go, “Ka-LOMP!” “Ker-UNCH!” and “BOOM-BA-DEE!! BOOM!” The overall tone is upbeat, and the depiction of imaginative play a treat. In addition to relating the joy of discovering a new playmate, the work validates the anxiety of children being displaced by a move (despite the glossy ending), making it doubly worthwhile. (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: June 1, 2003
ISBN: 0-316-10458-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2003
A cozy, comforting read.
Noodle the pug sets his sights on getting to the top of the snuggliest pile of couch blankets.
Nowhere seems comfy enough for Noodle, not even his perfectly fluffed bed. He finally spies the ideal spot: Comfy Mountain. Noodle tries to get his little pug legs up onto the couch to reach the mound of blankets, but he can’t get to the summit. Finally, he reaches the top thanks to a helping hand from his light-skinned human, Jonathan. This is Graziano’s second picture book starring Noodle, his real-life pug who gained a huge social media following for videos reminding viewers of the importance of self-care (if Noodle slumped over after Graziano held him up, it was a “no-bones day,” devoted to rest and relaxation). Noodle’s perspective is sweet and charming, and readers will relate to the peace that comes from settling in to the perfect cuddle nook. Tavis’ soft illustrations depict a wide-eyed, rotund little pup who’s impossible not to love. The shimmering golden light that falls on Comfy Mountain is pitch-perfect, as is Noodle’s perspective over his human’s domain. There’s a sweet little dust ball of a spider that hangs out on multiple pages and plenty of other charming touches. The message—that we all need a little help from a pal once in a while—is a familiar but sound one, and what better way to convey it than through a story of (hu)man’s best friend? (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A cozy, comforting read. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9781665941679
Page Count: 32
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: July 25, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Small, a very little fox, needs some reassurance from Large in the unconditional love department. If he is grim and grumpy, will he still be loved? “ ‘Oh, Small,’ said Large, ‘grumpy or not, I’ll always love you, no matter what.’ “ So it goes, in a gentle rhyme, as Large parries any number of questions that for Small are very telling. What if he were to turn into a young bear, or squishy bug, or alligator? Would a mother want to hug and hold these fearsome animals? Yes, yes, answers Large. “But does love wear out? Does it break or bend? Can you fix it or patch it? Does it mend?” There is comfort in Gliori’s pages, but it is a result of repetition and not the imagery; this is a quick fix, not an enduring one, but it eases Small’s fears and may well do the same for children. (Picture book. 2-6)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-15-202061-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1999
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