by Rosie Wellesley ; illustrated by Rosie Wellesley ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2018
Unsatisfying.
Poor Isaac the hedgehog is famished after his long winter sleep.
Noisy Starling awakens Isaac at the start of spring, and he’s immediately tempted by her breakfast of a worm. But Starling laughs at him because she thinks he’s having a “bad hair day.” The hedgehog’s feelings are hurt, and things only worsen when he ventures forth to find food, since Starling was too busy mocking him to share. Readers will note that he’s oblivious to a fox, unmentioned in the text but depicted stalking Isaac across a spread and then lurking about as Isaac encounters Toad and Heron, who both thwart his efforts to get a meal. The seemingly watercolor-and-ink illustrations provide visual interest as they add humor and extend the verbal narrative, which unfortunately lacks cohesion. Just when Isaac’s fortunes seem to be changing with the sighting of an earwig (“Best breakfast of all!”), the lurking fox pounces and tries to make a meal of him. But that bad hair day ends up saving Isaac’s skin since it wasn’t caused by bed head but spiky quills that the fox isn’t keen on ingesting. Somehow emboldened by this brush with death, Isaac tells the fox that there’s plenty of food for all. Huh? Starling also returns with an offering and an apology, adding another layer to a rushed conclusion.
Unsatisfying. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-84365-353-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Pavilion/Trafalgar
Review Posted Online: July 15, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2018
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by Jimmy Fallon ; illustrated by Miguel Ordóñez ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 9, 2015
Plotless and pointless, the book clearly exists only because its celebrity author wrote it.
A succession of animal dads do their best to teach their young to say “Dada” in this picture-book vehicle for Fallon.
A grumpy bull says, “DADA!”; his calf moos back. A sad-looking ram insists, “DADA!”; his lamb baas back. A duck, a bee, a dog, a rabbit, a cat, a mouse, a donkey, a pig, a frog, a rooster, and a horse all fail similarly, spread by spread. A final two-spread sequence finds all of the animals arrayed across the pages, dads on the verso and children on the recto. All the text prior to this point has been either iterations of “Dada” or animal sounds in dialogue bubbles; here, narrative text states, “Now everybody get in line, let’s say it together one more time….” Upon the turn of the page, the animal dads gaze round-eyed as their young across the gutter all cry, “DADA!” (except the duckling, who says, “quack”). Ordóñez's illustrations have a bland, digital look, compositions hardly varying with the characters, although the pastel-colored backgrounds change. The punch line fails from a design standpoint, as the sudden, single-bubble chorus of “DADA” appears to be emanating from background features rather than the baby animals’ mouths (only some of which, on close inspection, appear to be open). It also fails to be funny.
Plotless and pointless, the book clearly exists only because its celebrity author wrote it. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: June 9, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-250-00934-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: April 14, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2015
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SEEN & HEARD
by Drew Daywalt ; illustrated by Oliver Jeffers ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 13, 2024
A droll exploration of color and nature—and a welcome reminder to safeguard our planet.
Daywalt and Jeffers’ wildly popular Crayons have an important ecological message.
Though climate change is never mentioned, the book nevertheless gently introduces responsibility for Planet Earth. As in previous titles, the main text is in a large black font, while the Crayons’ dialogue is presented in a smaller, gray font. Blue begins by showing off a blue-tinged image of the globe (land masses are depicted in a darker hue). Green takes over: “Yay, Trees! I did those!” Beige breaks in, pointing to a tiny wheat plant next to two large trees: “And wheat! I did the WHEAT!” Beige puts wheat front and center throughout—even on White’s drawing of mountaintop ice caps. When Red, Yellow, and Orange display drawings of various fruits, Beige interjects, “And WHEAT. Wheat is totally fruit.” Diplomatic Purple politely responds, “Um. NO. It is not.” Purple attempts to dissuade self-important Beige, but it all ends happily as the Crayons join hands and proclaim: “Our planet has all of us too, in many shapes, colors, and sizes.” Beige and Purple reconcile, with Beige adding, “And it’s our job to keep the planet safe.” Young children will easily absorb this positive message. Although these characters have had many outings, their quiet humor still succeeds, and fans will definitely want this new entry.
A droll exploration of color and nature—and a welcome reminder to safeguard our planet. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Feb. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593621080
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: Nov. 18, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2023
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by Drew Daywalt ; illustrated by Alex Willmore
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by Drew Daywalt ; illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
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by Drew Daywalt ; illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
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