Several classic fairy tales receive a topsy-turvy retelling in this cheerfully irreverent collection of short tales. Goldilocks, Red Riding Hood, The Billy Goats Gruff, and Jack and the Beanstalk come with generous heapings of suspense and zany humor. Grindley (What Are Friends For?, 1998, etc.) remains faithful to the original stories. Instead, she turns each into a series of questions that relay the fundamental elements of the tale, focus on key characters, and culminate in the query: “Who is it?” “Someone’s stealing the giant’s enormous bag of gold! Who is it? It’s Jack. And the giant’s waked up! Get out of there fast, Jack!” One caveat: readers need to be familiar with the original story in order to guess the answers and catch the joke. However, clues are provided in both the text and artwork prior to the resolution to help uncertain readers. Beardshaw’s lavishly colored, full-page illustrations are a perfect match for this rambunctious book, capturing the exuberant spirit of the tales. She cleverly hides the main character’s face from view until the climax, deliciously prolonging readers’ anticipation and suspense. Preschoolers will savor the outrageous humor and enjoy guessing the correct answers, making for a boisterous read-aloud session. A playfully tongue-in-cheek game to tickle readers’ fancies. (Picture book. 3-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2000
ISBN: 1-56145-224-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2000
A book that will make young dog-owners smile in recognition and confirm dogless readers' worst suspicions about the mayhem caused by pets, even winsome ones. Sam, who bears passing resemblance to an affable golden retriever, is praised for fetching the family newspaper, and goes on to fetch every other newspaper on the block. In the next story, only the children love Sam's swimming; he is yelled at by lifeguards and fishermen alike when he splashes through every watering hole he can find. Finally, there is woe to the entire family when Sam is bored and lonely for one long night. Boland has an essential message, captured in both both story and illustrations of this Easy-to-Read: Kids and dogs belong together, especially when it's a fun-loving canine like Sam. An appealing tale. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-8037-1530-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1996
This should send Dark Knight fans flying to the Batcave—or the bedroom.
Holy bedtime, Batman!
In a sleepy-looking neighborhood under a dusky cerulean sky, a young, brown-haired, white boy goes through the motions of getting ready for bed: he brushes his teeth, takes a bath, picks up his toys, and feeds his fish. In a parallel visual narrative, beckoned by the cat's-eye–yellow bat-signal, Batman keeps Gotham safe for another night by catching crooks, locking them away, and avenging those who have been wronged. Though the two characters are quite different, through a carefully flexible narrative, Dahl and Beavers weave a convincing tale of just how similar they might be. “It’s time to take care of business” describes the child’s trip to the potty and Batman’s dive down a manhole equally well, for instance. Beavers' art is visually striking and vibrantly hued, perfect for keeping young eyes glued to each page. Dahl's economical text is cadenced with a gentle lilt, just right for a bedtime read-aloud. Young fans of the caped crusader will delight in spying their favorite characters. In the already-overstuffed bedtime-book market, this is certainly a niche read, but it hits its mark well, delivering fun without darkness. A “bedtime checklist” at the end aptly includes “story time.”
This should send Dark Knight fans flying to the Batcave—or the bedroom. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-62370-732-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
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