Uniqueness triumphs in this colorful, fun tale of an unusual flamingo.
A flamingo who doesn’t look anything like the rest of her flock is tired of always standing out.
Barber’s picture book emphasizes the positive message that it’s okay to be different. Lu Lu’s blue feathers make her a star attraction at the zoo where she lives, but after a frightening encounter with one young zoo visitor, Lu Lu decides that she’s tired of being a celebrity. The bird visits Dr. Havalook who mixes up a special batch of pink paint to coat her from head to toe. She’s excited that she finally looks like the rest of the flamingos. But the reaction of her fellow zoo animals makes her regret her decision. Scared that she might have to be pink forever, she hurries back to Dr. Havalook who gives her the good news that she can go back to her old blue self at any time. Her friends help wash off all the pink paint, and Lu Lu goes back to being the blue flamingo. She’s delighted to be a zoo superstar once again. Colorful, realistic illustrations will appeal to kids. Some wordy passages and some longer words—“When the zoo keeper searched for his prized bird, he was horrified that Lu Lu refused to come out for anyone!”—mean this book isn’t suited to beginning readers, but it will certainly work as a read-aloud. The tale concludes with a fill-in page and two coloring pages, which make for useful extension activities but could prove problematic for library and classroom use. The message is a simple but timeless one: celebrate what makes one unique rather than trying to hide those differences. Young listeners should have no problem identifying the message with a few helpful prompts. The book will also provide a useful springboard for discussions about identity and personal traits.
Uniqueness triumphs in this colorful, fun tale of an unusual flamingo.Pub Date: June 3, 2012
ISBN: 978-1477595084
Page Count: 42
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Aug. 31, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
In spite of a silly title, occasional mature insights into mature acts make for a memorable sexual escapade.
A modern tale of sex, drugs and day jobs from author K. (Honey B., 2012).
As the title suggests rather explicitly, this is a book about marijuana and sex. Narrated by an unnamed grocery store manager who explores naughty pleasures in his free time, the praise of marijuana and beautiful women never diminishes. Whether it’s coupling with a woman who enjoys falling asleep during the act or finding the best way to store quality weed, the narrator never bores of either subject. Always careful to maintain his day job, avoid any romantic complications with his love trysts, and not get anywhere near being caught with an illegal substance, the narrator is free to enjoy himself. After all, the outside world respects him as an ordinary citizen by day, while various women devour him by night: “Margaret was not shy, she slid my hand from her knee up between soft bare thighs to her silk covered mound.” Written in a loose, free-wheeling prose that mimics the narrator’s lifestyle, the story glides from woman to woman and bong hit to bong hit without the burdens of plot or conflict. Though many reflections have the tedious feel of a stoner who can’t stop singing pot’s praises (“Marijuana leads to lingering. The herb makes nipples delicious. Nothing like being naked and doing a doobie. Bong. Bong. Bong.”), the composition as a whole is more mature than what one might infer from the title. The narrator repeatedly praises women for their individual differences and sexuality. Erotic scenes are explicit, though the individuals engaged in them are marked with idiosyncrasies. “In Brenda’s case,” says the grocer, “I could catch her scented signal but on my tongue she felt like thick water, clear but possessing weight, it wouldn’t splash, it would smear.” The narrator never gives much more of himself to the reader beyond his somewhat predictable views on drug laws and oral sex, but his adventure is entertaining for those curious about how an attractive, tough-but-fair store manager might spend his weekends.
In spite of a silly title, occasional mature insights into mature acts make for a memorable sexual escapade.Pub Date: Sept. 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1463583682
Page Count: 138
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Dec. 20, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Inspirational historical fiction based one woman’s remarkable life and travels.
Based on a true story, Rodgers presents a moving novel that pays tribute to the power of an adventurous spirit.
In 1938, 17 year old Adriana Blaauw considers leaving behind her family in Rotterdam and move to the island of Java in the (then) Dutch East Indies. Her uncle manages a tea estate, and he and his wife describe their beautiful home at Tjiboeni. After some initial hesitation, the protagonist undertakes the long sea voyage to Java. The story beautifully narrates Adriana’s daily experiences in the Dutch East Indies under colonial rule. She finds happiness in her new home, revels in her independence and ultimately falls in love with an Australian national, Charlie. Despite the beauty and ease of her exotic lifestyle, Adriana is not exempt from heartbreak. The realities of World War II and the arrival of the Japanese put an end to her idyllic life. She and her family spend years in a Japanese internment camp, somehow surviving the violence, starvation and disease to be liberated at the end of the war. Reunited with Charlie, Adriana journeys to Australia, Java, Holland and eventually settles in New Zealand. Based on the accounts and memories of the real-life Adriana Blaauw, Rodgers’ novel is an engaging tale set during a turbulent time. Adriana is a compelling figure, and Rodgers outlines an complete portrait of a woman who struggles with weakness, yet remains a study in strength and endurance. The cast of characters surrounding her, some real and some fictional, depict a period in history that is likely unknown to many American readers. Although Rodgers’ occasionally struggles with language anachronisms that jar the reader out of the past, she does an admirable job of bringing the 1940s to life.
Inspirational historical fiction based one woman’s remarkable life and travels.Pub Date: Nov. 21, 2011
ISBN: 978-1463440626
Page Count: 464
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Review Posted Online: July 24, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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