by Renata Suerth ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 15, 2013
Though the first-person narrator is a bit of a brat, elementary schoolers will likely enjoy her snarky approach to life.
This second entry in Suerth’s (Crazy Summer, 2013) middle-grade series follows fifth-grader Sofie Czerny through her first few months at a new school in Stevens Point, Wis.
Sofie’s family—herself, her parents and little sister, Izzy—lives with her Grandma Ursula, a scatterbrained free spirit and owner of the titular wig. Rather, she’s the former owner, since Sofie accidentally set it on fire in the previous book. But miracle of miracles, when Grandma Ursula drags Sofie to a thrift store on a school-supplies shopping trip, she finds a new-to-her wig in the same style—a “poop-color brown fur ball, shaped like a football helmet,” as Sofie snidely refers to it. More episodic slices of life follow: Sofie’s lonely first day of school; an embarrassing lice outbreak that she blames on Grandma Ursula’s used wig; failed flirtation with her dreamy neighbor, Andrew; a mortifying YouTube fiasco involving an Xbox-aided dance routine that Sofie unwisely chooses to do in her underwear and training bra. It all culminates in her other (and favorite) grandmother’s Black Friday wedding to motorcycle-riding, ponytailed Earl Lee Burd, who shows up with Hannah, the redheaded granddaughter he raised, with whom Sofie becomes friends. There’s a good deal of madcap action and several embarrassing moments, and kids Sofie’s age and a little younger will be plenty amused. Older readers, especially adults, may be less charmed by the humor and Sofie’s asides: She’s often mean-spirited, as when she complains about the “gross smell” of the thrift store or arbitrarily decides to find reasons not to like Earl Lee. Her continued dislike of Grandma Ursula also seems unfair; despite her dubious taste in wigs, Ursula is a fun, if flighty, character, the kind who could easily be the beloved “wacky grandma” in a different series.
Though the first-person narrator is a bit of a brat, elementary schoolers will likely enjoy her snarky approach to life.Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2013
ISBN: 978-0988268517
Page Count: 162
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Feb. 6, 2014
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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by Chloe Perkins ; illustrated by Sandra Equihua ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 13, 2016
A nice but not requisite purchase.
A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.
Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.
A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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by Tom Fletcher ; illustrated by Greg Abbott ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 5, 2017
Playful, engaging, and full of opportunities for empathy—a raucous storytime hit.
Readers try to dislodge a monster from the pages of this emotive and interactive read-aloud.
“OH NO!” the story starts. “There’s a monster in your book!” The blue, round-headed monster with pink horns and a pink-tipped tail can be seen cheerfully munching on the opening page. “Let’s try to get him out,” declares the narrator. Readers are encouraged to shake, tilt, and spin the book around, while the monster careens around an empty background looking scared and lost. Viewers are exhorted to tickle the monster’s feet, blow on the page, and make a really loud noise. Finally, shockingly, it works: “Now he’s in your room!” But clearly a monster in your book is safer than a monster in your room, so he’s coaxed back into the illustrations and lulled to sleep, curled up under one page and cuddling a bit of another like a child with their blankie. The monster’s entirely cute appearance and clear emotional reactions to his treatment add to the interactive aspect, and some young readers might even resist the instructions to avoid hurting their new pal. Children will be brought along on the monster’s journey, going from excited, noisy, and wiggly to calm and steady (one can hope).
Playful, engaging, and full of opportunities for empathy—a raucous storytime hit. (Picture book. 2-7)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5247-6456-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: June 4, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017
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by Tom Fletcher ; illustrated by Greg Abbott
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