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MAX & RUBY AND TWIN TROUBLE

Name: MAX & RUBY AND TWIN TROUBLE
Author: Rosemary Wells
ISBN: 978-1-5344-4365-5

From the Max & Ruby series

by Rosemary Wells ; illustrated by Rosemary Wells ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 15, 2019

Double trouble finds comic relief

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Max and Ruby’s sibling skills are put to the test with the arrival of twins.

Know-it-all Ruby thinks she’s an expert on babies, especially now that her mother is pregnant. She tries to explain to her little brother where babies come from, but mischievous Max knows they come from taxis, as that’s how their cousins arrived. Not to be outdone, Ruby uses her Hannah the Howler doll(an extremely creepy, wide-eyed white human) to show Max how to care for babies. After pressing a button that makes the doll cry, Ruby demonstrates how to feed, diaper, bathe, and put Hannah to bed. But Max considers their efforts finished only when he wakes Hannah up with a final push of her button. Wells’ signature illustrations raise the excitement—and humor—when Mama and Papa bring home not one, but two babies (by taxi, of course!). Piles of laundry and a flurry of adults carrying babies to and fro, day and night realistically depict life with newborn twins. All seems well, albeit busy, until the day nothing makes the babies happy. Not changing their diapers, giving them a bath, or winding up their Vibra-Chairs. Then Max remembers Hannah! Her wailing makes the twins’ crying turn to giggles and, finally, sleep. Youngsters expecting one or more additions to their own families will find warmth and wit here to ease the transition.

Double trouble finds comic relief . (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-5344-4365-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: June 15, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
ON THE NIGHT BEFORE KINDERGARTEN
by Rosemary Wells ; illustrated by Rosemary Wells

- BOOK REVIEW
IF YOU BELIEVE IN ME
by Rosemary Wells ; illustrated by Rosemary Wells

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BUNNY, BIG GERMS
by Rosemary Wells ; illustrated by Rosemary Wells

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DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE SLEIGH!

by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 5, 2023

A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.

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Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.

This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”

A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023

ISBN: 9781454952770

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Union Square Kids

Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

- BOOK REVIEW
THE FRUSTRATING BOOK!
by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems

- BOOK REVIEW
THE PIGEON WILL RIDE THE ROLLER COASTER!
by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems

- BOOK REVIEW
IT'S A SIGN!
by Jarrett Pumphrey & Jerome Pumphrey with Mo Willems ; illustrated by Jarrett Pumphrey & Jerome Pumphrey

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SLUG IN LOVE

by Rachel Bright ; illustrated by Nadia Shireen ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 14, 2021

Sweet, reassuring fun—and a story to fully embrace.

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A slug longs for a hug and finds it unexpectedly.

Doug the slug would really like a hug and plods on, seeking affection. But a caterpillar, bug, spider, and worm want no part of hugging a slug. They are just not feeling it (might they feel sluggish?), voicing their disdain in no uncertain terms with expressions like, “Grimy, slippy!” and “Squelchy, slimy!” What’s a slug to do? Undeterred, Doug keeps trying. He meets Gail, a snail with crimson lipstick and hip, red glasses; she happens to be as grimy and squelchy as he is, so he figures she is the hugger of his dreams. The two embark upon a madcap romantic courtship. Alas, Gail also draws the (slimy) line at hugging Doug. Finally, mournful Doug meets the best hugger and the true love of his life, proving there’s someone for everyone. This charmer will have readers rooting for Doug (and perhaps even wanting to hug him). Expressed in simple, jaunty verses that read and scan smoothly, the brief tale revolves around words that mainly rhyme with Doug and slug. Given that the story stretches vocabulary so well with regard to rhyming words, children can be challenged after a read-aloud session to offer up words that rhyme with slug and snail. The colorful and humorous illustrations are lively and cheerful; googly-eyed Doug is, like the other characters, entertaining and expressive. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Sweet, reassuring fun—and a story to fully embrace. (Picture book. 4-8)