A clever new version of a classic tale that remains fairly faithful to the original.
An avian community grapples with the aftermath of a tragic death in Charach’s illustrated children’s book.
A robin lies dead on the ground. A sparrow cries that they shot him: “I, said the Sparrow, With my broken bow and arrow, I shot Cock Robin.” Thus opens this adaptation of a classic English nursery rhyme—but in this iteration, the animals involved are all birds. Each participates in the incident according to the skills closely associated with their species: The magpie watched the incident unfold, the vultures volunteer to pick clean the body after it’s been wiped of blood by the redwing, and the woodcock and the swift offer to prepare the coffin. When it comes time to plan the funeral itself, the drake, wren, raven, and dove step up to lead the planners, and be pallbearers, clergy, and the chief mourner, respectively. The thrush and mockingbird, classically musical songbirds, are tapped to present the psalms and eulogy, respectively, while others follow them in a mournful procession to Cock Robin’s gravesite. In a nod to the original rhyme, the bullfinch (as opposed to the bull) tolls the bell for the ceremony as the other birds gather around the grave dug by Owl, “a-sighin’ and a-sobbin’.” Charach’s reinterpretation of the original rhyme is seamless, fitting neatly into its lyrical pattern while gently pushing it in a new direction. However, while in his afterword he asserts that “the guilt of the sparrow, recast as female, is finally in question,” little evidence supports this claim in his actual text; the word “broken” has been added to describe the bow and arrow, but it’s easy to miss, and there is no mention of the sparrow’s gender at all. The DeWitts’ illustrations are rooted in realism but remain playful with the addition of hats and other accessories to help distinguish the birds. Their rendition of Cock Robin’s death may scare more sensitive children, who could balk at the sight of a bleeding bird on the very first page.
A clever new version of a classic tale that remains fairly faithful to the original.Pub Date: Feb. 27, 2025
ISBN: 9781038329578
Page Count: 24
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: April 24, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Uncomplicated fun that sets readers up for the earlier, more-complicated books to come.
Little Blue Truck and his pal Toad meet friends old and new on a springtime drive through the country.
This lift-the-flap, interactive entry in the popular Little Blue Truck series lacks the narrative strength and valuable life lessons of the original Little Blue Truck (2008) and its sequel, Little Blue Truck Leads the Way (2009). Both of those books, published for preschoolers rather than toddlers, featured rich storylines, dramatic, kinetic illustrations, and simple but valuable life lessons—the folly of taking oneself too seriously, the importance of friends, and the virtue of taking turns, for example. At about half the length and with half as much text as the aforementioned titles, this volume is a much quicker read. Less a story than a vernal celebration, the book depicts a bucolic drive through farmland and encounters with various animals and their young along the way. Beautifully rendered two-page tableaux teem with butterflies, blossoms, and vibrant pastel, springtime colors. Little Blue greets a sheep standing in the door of a barn: “Yoo-hoo, Sheep! / Beep-beep! / What’s new?” Folding back the durable, card-stock flap reveals the barn’s interior and an adorable set of twin lambs. Encounters with a duck and nine ducklings, a cow with a calf, a pig with 10 (!) piglets, a family of bunnies, and a chicken with a freshly hatched chick provide ample opportunity for counting and vocabulary work.
Uncomplicated fun that sets readers up for the earlier, more-complicated books to come. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-544-93809-0
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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