A fun tale for little ones while sitting around a campfire.
In Keres’ series picture book, two siblings have a silly fright during a family camping trip.
After a day of typical camping activities (including fishing) in a wooded area, two kids and their father try to sleep in their tents—but then they hear something out of the ordinary: a “moan, then a whine” and then “panting and wheezing.” Suddenly, the creature howls, and the moonlight reveals that the mysterious beast has big, scary claws. Maybe it’s a wolf or a bear—or possibly a sasquatch, they think. Should they climb a tree for safety? As the delightful rhymes, images, and comically illustrated onomatopoeias go by, young readers will be on the edge of their seats as they try to imagine what’s outside the tent. In the end, they see the monster’s true face and learn why it came for a visit. Young children are likely to be entertained by Keres’ succinct yet playful storytelling and Lin’s expressive, full-color cartoon illustrations. It’s the perfect book to bring on a family camping trip, as it presents a scary campfire story that won’t have kids losing sleep afterward. The family members are portrayed with pale skin.
A fun tale for little ones while sitting around a campfire.Pub Date: April 30, 2024
ISBN: 979-8989916016
Page Count: 39
Publisher: Buzzbook Press
Review Posted Online: July 6, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Give this child’s-eye view of a day at the beach with an attentive father high marks for coziness: “When your ball blows across the sand and into the ocean and starts to drift away, your daddy could say, Didn’t I tell you not to play too close to the waves? But he doesn’t. He wades out into the cold water. And he brings your ball back to the beach and plays roll and catch with you.” Alley depicts a moppet and her relaxed-looking dad (to all appearances a single parent) in informally drawn beach and domestic settings: playing together, snuggling up on the sofa and finally hugging each other goodnight. The third-person voice is a bit distancing, but it makes the togetherness less treacly, and Dad’s mix of love and competence is less insulting, to parents and children both, than Douglas Wood’s What Dads Can’t Do (2000), illus by Doug Cushman. (Picture book. 5-7)
Pub Date: May 23, 2005
ISBN: 0-618-00361-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2005
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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