by Ruth Wielockx ; illustrated by Ruth Wielockx ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2018
The flaps will probably not survive heavy use, but children curious about what might go inside bags and luggage will get an...
Opening suitcase-shaped flaps reveal what a magician, a doctor, a car mechanic, and others might carry to help them.
In the big, simple illustrations, anthropomorphic plushy animals with the proportions of toddlers pose in rows opposite suggestively shaped or decorated suitcases. The captions invite guessing who owns each bag, then lifting the (not-particularly-sturdy) glued-on flap to see what’s inside and taking another guess; turning the page shows the items in use. On verso stand Horse in a star-spangled robe, Piggy in a sailor’s top, and Dog in white scrubs; opposite, the white suitcase has a red cross on it. Turn the page: “Dog is a doctor. She takes care of Piggy and Horse at the hospital.” (Their suitcases reveal Horse to be a magician, Rabbit to be a mechanic, Cat to be a teacher, and Cow to be a musician; Piggy is a child.) Forced to wear a cast in the hospital scene and also being the recipient of an ugly drawing in the “teacher’s” classroom, Horse gets a rather raw deal here (“Why is Horse sad today?”), but the otherwise widespread smiles and generous measures of raw cuteness keep the overall tone light. The final suitcase contains a spare set of clothes, toothpaste, and a toy bear and belongs to Piggy, who is off to “sleep over” at Grandma and Grandpa’s. The final line, “What would you put in your suitcase?” invites lively discussion—as does, perhaps, the treatment of Horse’ experiences.
The flaps will probably not survive heavy use, but children curious about what might go inside bags and luggage will get an eyeful. (Picture book/novelty. 3-5)Pub Date: April 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-60537-401-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clavis
Review Posted Online: March 26, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2018
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by Ruth Wielockx ; illustrated by Ruth Wielockx
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by Ruth Wielockx ; illustrated by Ruth Wielockx
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by Ruth Wielockx ; illustrated by Ruth Wielockx
by Sarah Asper-Smith ; illustrated by Mitchell Watley ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 12, 2019
Instills a sense of well-being in youngsters while encouraging them to explore the natural world.
This reassuring picture book exemplifies how parents throughout the animal kingdom make homes for their offspring.
The narrative is written from the point of view of a parent talking to their child: “If you were a beaver, I would gnaw on trees with my teeth to build a cozy lodge for us to sleep in during the day.” Text appears in big, easy-to-read type, with the name of the creature in boldface. Additional facts about the animal appear in a smaller font, such as: “Beavers have transparent eyelids to help them see under water.” The gathering of land, air, and water animals includes a raven, a flying squirrel, and a sea lion. “Home” might be a nest, a den, or a burrow. One example, of a blue whale who has homes in the north and south (ocean is implied), will help children stretch the concept into feeling at home in the larger world. Illustrations of the habitats have an inviting luminosity. Mature and baby animals are realistically depicted, although facial features appear to have been somewhat softened, perhaps to appeal to young readers. The book ends with the comforting scene of a human parent and child silhouetted in the welcoming lights of the house they approach: “Wherever you may be, you will always have a home with me.”
Instills a sense of well-being in youngsters while encouraging them to explore the natural world. (Informational picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Nov. 12, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-63217-224-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Little Bigfoot/Sasquatch
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
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by Sarah Asper-Smith ; illustrated by Mitchell Watley
by Aaron Blabey ; illustrated by Aaron Blabey ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 29, 2019
This is a tremendously moving story, but some people will be moved only on the second reading, after they’ve Googled “How to...
A hug shouldn’t require an instruction manual—but some do.
A porcupine can frighten even the largest animal. In this picture book, a bear and a deer, along with a small rabbit, each run away when they hear eight simple words and their name: “I need a hug. Will you cuddle me,…?” As they flee, each utters a definitive refusal that rhymes with their name. The repetitive structure gives Blabey plenty of opportunities for humor, because every animal responds to the question with an outlandish, pop-eyed expression of panic. But the understated moments are even funnier. Each animal takes a moment to think over the request, and the drawings are nuanced enough that readers can see the creatures react with slowly building anxiety or, sometimes, a glassy stare. These silent reaction shots not only show exquisite comic timing, but they make the rhymes in the text feel pleasingly subtle by delaying the final line in each stanza. The story is a sort of fable about tolerance. It turns out that a porcupine can give a perfectly adequate hug when its quills are flat and relaxed, but no one stays around long enough to find out except for an animal that has its own experiences with intolerance: a snake. It’s an apt, touching moral, but the climax may confuse some readers as they try to figure out the precise mechanics of the embrace.
This is a tremendously moving story, but some people will be moved only on the second reading, after they’ve Googled “How to pet a porcupine.” (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Jan. 29, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-338-29710-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 29, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2018
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by Aaron Blabey ; illustrated by Aaron Blabey
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by Aaron Blabey ; illustrated by Aaron Blabey
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by Aaron Blabey ; illustrated by Aaron Blabey
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