“Once upon a time, there was a big old house.” And in this house live two mice, “little Billy and his big brother, Bo.” Billy and Bo set out to scrounge some supplies—lift-the-flap doors reveal bare cupboards in the mouse household—and room by room, wee Billy keeps trying to warn Bo of danger: “But...look!” Successive flaps lift to show no danger, just a jumble of cleaning supplies or an old tree outside the window. What Billy and readers see, however, is a snub-nosed Persian cat stalking the two mice through the spooky mansion. The large trim of this sophisticated novelty book keeps the focus on the mice and magnifies the cat to terrifying size. Brown’s use of light is masterful; cobwebs festoon the murky corners of each spread, making Bo’s obliviousness credible. The tension ratchets up to a dramatic reveal, which, for a moment, casts the mouse brothers’ survival into doubt. In design and plot something of an anti–Peter Rabbit, this unusual adventure beckons preschoolers ready for a chill or two. (Novelty/picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4015-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2008
With wordplay reminiscent of Margie Palatini at her best, Helakoski takes four timorous chickens into, then out of, the literal and figurative woods. Fleeing the henhouse after catching sight of a wolf, the pusillanimous pullets come to a deep ditch: “ ‘What if we can’t jump that far?’ ‘What if we fall in the ditch?’ ‘What if we get sucked into the mud?’ The chickens tutted, putted, and flutted. They butted into themselves and each other, until one by one . . . ” they do fall in. But then they pick themselves up and struggle out. Ensuing encounters with cows and a lake furnish similar responses and outcomes; ultimately they tumble into the wolf’s very cave, where they “picked, pecked, and pocked. They ruffled, puffled, and shuffled. They shrieked, squeaked, and freaked, until . . . ” their nemesis scampers away in panic. Fluttering about in pop-eyed terror, the portly, partly clothed hens make comical figures in Cole’s sunny cartoons (as does the flummoxed wolf)—but the genuine triumph in their final strut—“ ‘I am a big, brave chicken,’ said one chicken. ‘Ohh . . . ’ said the others. ‘Me too.’ ‘Me three.’ ‘Me four’ ”—brings this tribute to chicken power to a rousing close. (Picture book. 6-8)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2006
ISBN: 0-525-47575-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dutton
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2005
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Likely to find mass appeal but should be considered with scrutiny. (Picture book. 4-8)
Jim Panzee—the primate protagonist of Grumpy Monkey (2019) fame—is having a fine day until he receives an invitation to a party; the comic anxiety commences.
The source of Jim’s nerves is the idea of dancing. Jim Panzee, as it turns out, doesn’t know how to dance. This information shocks his jungle friends, who each give him pointers on how to bust a move on the dance floor. Jim tries to go along with his friends but discovers he’s not having a good time, not because he can’t dance, but because he actually doesn’t like dancing. Speaking out about his preferences inspires other animals to voice that they aren’t fans of the pastime either. They discover there are many other fun things to do at a party, like enjoy refreshments and play games, and still have a great time. Like its precursor, this title emphasizes self-acceptance and authenticity. It effectively communicates through the fanciful illustrations the feelings of facing pressure to conform to others’ expectations and the relief of honesty. Whatever gains this title develops in terms of social-emotional learning concepts, however, are offset by the insensitive use of a monkey protagonist, particularly linked to the racialized skill of dancing. It’s a shame that a series so imbued with emotional intelligence does not demonstrate more awareness of historical use of simian imagery as a derogatory referent to black people.
Likely to find mass appeal but should be considered with scrutiny. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-593-11862-7
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
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