Charming and spirited.
Dynamic visual design distinguishes this tale of sibling conflict in an immigrant family.
Running home from school, Rubina tells Ami (mom) the thrilling news of a birthday-party invitation. This concept’s new to Ami, but the real problem is younger sister Sana, who demands to attend as well. Ami agrees. Pouting all the way, Rubina takes Sana, who not only disrupts the games but eats both her own and Rubina’s big red lollipop party favor. Blackall’s peppy watercolor-and-pencil illustrations hum with vibrancy and a wonderful sense of children in constant motion. Every page shows fresh composition and scale. When the justifiably resentful Rubina chases Sana around the house, the pair of wee figures shows up eight times on that spread, racing from spot to spot like Hilary Knight’s Eloise. Then Sana receives an invitation herself and Ami almost makes her take even-younger sister Maryam along—but Rubina’s intervention prevents that, and Sana brings Rubina a big green lollipop in gratitude. They’re friends now, though it’s unknown whether the invitations that Rubina stopped receiving due to Sana’s antics ever recommence.
Charming and spirited. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: March 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-670-06287-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Dec. 22, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2010
Bright-eyed, neatly drawn little animals in human dress crowd three successive settings from morning to night in this low-key seek-and-find import originally published in Germany as three separate, stand-alone titles.
Each section opens with a pictorial cast page that introduces Dr. and Mrs. Bunny, their two little bunnies and about 50 different or recurring fellow residents—including Benny Badger or, as he’s repeatedly styled, “that pesky/sneaky/lazy/unruly Benny Badger.” Teckentrup provides three questions on each spread as invitations to initial engagements with the pictures. These range from “Oh no! Who is slipping on a banana peel?” or “Where is Henry Hound fishing now?” to repeated heads-ups that Benny can be caught in some misbehavior like lounging lazily on a bench or trying to steal a chicken. Viewers who keep looking will see plenty of other activity, though aside from the odd small fire or other minor mishap, the action runs to easily identifiable playtimes, farm chores, meals, sightseeing and other quotidian occupations. There’s plenty to reward nose-to-page viewing, but even Richard Scarry fans may find this a little dull. (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4521-1700-3
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 10, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2014
Skip the dated allegory and seek out Arnold Adoff and Jacqueline Woodson instead
Manifestly good intentions and charming illustrations can’t rescue this high-concept, lead-footed tale, burdened with wince-inducing subtext.
Hatched from the happy, mixed-species union of penguin (dad) and rabbit (mom)—Little Benguin greets the world—only to be instantly rejected. “Because Little Benguin was unusual, people were afraid of him. And because people were afraid, Little Benguin was alone.” Unispecies age mates jeer at his looks; his self-esteem plummets (“I am an alien. I am a monster”); his parents worry uselessly. He longs to be “normal.” When a hungry wolf shows up, Little Benguin leads him away, using superskills—running, swimming—his mixed-species heritage has given him. Throughout, the plot relies on dated, offensive plant- and animal-breeding stereotypes. Grateful fair-weather friends throw a party in his honor. (Disconnected from the grim content, the sunny art seems to have wandered in from a different story.) Questions are begged: Why is it assumed that being mixed will prompt universal rejection? What if the wolf hadn’t shown up? Why is it up to Little Benguin to prove himself acceptable to the majority? Who gets to define what is “normal”? Tackling xenophobia, racial and otherwise, in a picture book is a worthy goal, but replacing negative with positive stereotypes doesn’t achieve it.
Skip the dated allegory and seek out Arnold Adoff and Jacqueline Woodson instead . (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: March 15, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2934-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Jan. 21, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2014
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