There are plenty of pussycat picture books to pick from; let this one stray.
Some Cats Got Talent (2014); those that do return to “get famous.”
Feline friends Hal, Dora, and Geneva still enjoy singing on the fence in the alley, but the surrounding humans don’t enjoy the ruckus. One of those humans, impresario Lekvar Smirk, thinks he can exploit the trio, so he catnaps them and forces them to audition for the TV show Animal Idol. Lekvar then sabotages their competition, and Hal, Dora, and Geneva win a pile of cash. Excited to spend their cash, the cats leave Lekvar behind. Hal opens a restaurant, Dora opens a fashion boutique, and Geneva makes movies. All three fulfill lifelong dreams, but they miss one another and the alley. They return to their favorite performance space and now please their human audience with lullabies. Barrett’s retro–Sunday funnies illustrations have a great look, but the tale they help tell is full of non sequiturs and disconnects. Lekvar’s quick capitulation after all his planning and experience exploiting animals makes no sense. The cats casually abandon their dreams-come-true for nostalgia and, strangely, add lullabies to a repertoire they were well-satisfied with. Lekvar’s last-page comeuppance could not feel more tacked-on. Barrett’s past successes have been in bringing the words of others to life; sticking with that talent in future might be best.
There are plenty of pussycat picture books to pick from; let this one stray. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4424-9453-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 11, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school...
The familiar theme of the challenges facing a new kid in town is given an original treatment by photographer Border in this book of photos of three-dimensional objects in a simple modeled landscape.
Peanut Butter is represented by a slice of white bread spread with the popular condiment. The other characters in the story—a hamburger with a pair of hot dogs in tow, a bowl of alphabet soup, a meatball jumping a rope of spaghetti, a carton of French fries and a pink cupcake—are represented by skillfully crafted models of these foods, anthropomorphized using simple wire construction. Rejected by each character in turn in his search for playmates, Peanut Butter discovers in the end that Jelly is his true match (not Cupcake, as the title suggests), perhaps because she is the only one who looks like him, being a slice of white bread spread with jelly. The friendly foods end up happily playing soccer together. Some parents may have trouble with the unabashedly happy depiction of carbs and American junk food (no carrots or celery sticks in this landscape), and others may find themselves troubled by the implication that friendship across difference is impossible.
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school experiences. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: July 29, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-399-16773-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2014
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
