Gross but that’s what they were going for.
Christmas is going to stink this year.
This tale from the creators of The Great Big Poop Party (2020) finds children requesting that Santa bring them not toys or treats but Christmas poo, and Santa doesn’t know what to do. Santa is not a fan of bathroom humor and takes a stance against the pro-poop majority at the North Pole, which includes Mrs. Claus, an abominable snowman, and the elves. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Santa has a limited view of Christmas enjoyment, while the others realize that the holiday can mean many things to different people: ‘I just don’t think Christmas is the time for poop,’ said Santa. ‘Christmas is a time for peace.’ The elves knew Christmas was a time for peace, but they wondered if it could also be a time for poop.” A chance encounter with a whoopee cushion during a strained discussion might be enough to break the tension and change Santa’s mind. The toilet humor comes fast and furious—so much so that it could make even an atheist say, “Hey, come on, some things are sacred!”—but for children (and caregivers) who can’t get enough poop jokes, this book will be a hit. The energetic mixed-media illustrations keep pace with the text, and a recipe for “Reindeer Dropping Treats” may add a new cookie to families’ holiday rotations of sweets. Santa and Mrs. Claus are light-skinned; the elves vary in skin tone. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Gross but that’s what they were going for. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-250-83710-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An accessible entrance into the world of social-emotional skills.
What do you do when the world turns upside down?
Freckled redhead Tilda is a happy only child with a rollicking personality. With lots of books and toys and a multiracial group of friends, life is perfect as far as she’s concerned…until her world undergoes a troubling change (a subtle hint in the illustrations suggests that Tilda’s parents have divorced). Suddenly, nothing feels right, everything seems hard, and she doesn’t want to play with her friends. To reflect this emotional disorientation, the artwork shows Tilda in spatially distorted settings, complete with upside-down objects. It’s not until she sees an upturned ladybug struggle persistently before getting back on its feet (despite Tilda’s desire to help, the ladybug needs to help itself) that Tilda gains the courage to start taking baby steps in order to cope with her new reality. There are still challenges, and she needs to persevere, but eventually, she regains her zest for life and reconnects with her friends. Despite this, the ending avoids an easy happily-ever-after, which feels just right for the subject matter. Though a trifle didactic, the story sends an important message about the roles of self-efficacy and persistence when it comes to overcoming challenges and building resilience. Percival’s digital illustrations use transitions from grayscale to color to create symbolic meaning and have psychological depth, deftly capturing a child’s experience of trauma.
An accessible entrance into the world of social-emotional skills. (author's note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0822-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2022
A warm and welcome story for emerging readers and their families.
Pumpkins star in this family-centered early reader.
Sketched in rhyming, easy-to-read couplets, this familiar autumn setting is made even warmer by the sweet family that is making a trip to the pumpkin farm. “Sunny day. Pack a lunch. / In the treetops squirrels munch.” So begins the story of a black mother and father and their young son and daughter. They find their special pumpkins and return home for carving, just in time for trick-or-treating. Mother and father are shown walking hand in hand or gently guiding their youngsters, who are very excited to pick out the perfect gourd. Read aloud, the predictable rhyme scans well, making this a book for emerging readers to read over and over, gaining confidence each time. The full-color illustrations, full of oranges and yellows, match the words, providing important visual cues. Little ones will laugh when the younger brother initially finds a huge pumpkin and rolls it over the hill like a bowling ball. “Thump! Thump! Thump! Then… / Uh-oh!” Eventually, he finds one just the right size for carving. Children of color are remarkably absent in the easy-reader stacks, so it’s an especially welcome treat to see them in this rural setting. Preschool and kindergarten teachers will want to add this to their collections.
A warm and welcome story for emerging readers and their families. (Early reader. 3-6)Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-553-51341-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: April 28, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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