Young readers will love returning to find hidden treasures among these pages—a delightful romp.
Little Kunoichi’s dazzling pet inspires Chibi Samurai’s quest for his own.
Ninja Bunny is awesome. Audacious and strong, the rabbit and Little Kunoichi are inseparable. Wanting a similar snuggly friend, Chibi Samurai gears up and sets out. Across mountains, forest, and swamp the intrepid boy greets Japanese creatures, both mythic and real (giant salamander, mischievous kappa, hot-spring–loving monkeys!), but none stay. Dejected, Chibi returns home to find a loyal and mighty stag beetle has been with him all along. Ishida seamlessly weaves Japanese cultural references into the text and art, integrating traditional clothing, decor, games, and even a haiku into the tale. Backmatter explains these visual cues, adding to the seek-and-find fun on many pages. Watercolor illustrations are reminiscent of Taro Gomi’s, with their appealing, earnest simplicity. Like a child’s artwork, they have a spontaneity, a fizzy energy, that’s never labored. Despite this appearance, each page is meticulously planned. Unfortunately, the stag beetle may seem like an obvious play for Kubo fans, and the front-cover design doesn’t capture the vivacity of its contents; however, if readers only turn the page, a playful adventure awaits.
Young readers will love returning to find hidden treasures among these pages—a delightful romp. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Aug. 8, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-63217-117-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Little Bigfoot/Sasquatch
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A visual success conjuring up the best about the seasons’ changes.
As a child walks through woods and town, summer turns to fall, and the natural world is met with a friendly hello.
A slim, brown child with a black-haired bob and hipster clothes stands on a stoop, ready to greet the late summer morning. On this picturesque journey through the seasons, the protagonist’s cordial salutation—whether made to blue jays and beavers or to the thunder and wind—is always the same: “Hello, [object].” And all amiably respond, providing tidbits of information about themselves. Unfortunately, their chatty replies miss the rhythm and easy conversational style that would make this shine as a read-aloud. It’s a shame, since the artist’s lush, evocative digital illustrations so perfectly capture the changing seasons in both the countryside and the town’s streets. To further accentuate the subject matter, Pak makes every spread a panorama, allowing readers to see and feel the various environments and habitats. Working in the tradition of such artists as Richard Scarry and Mary Blair, he takes a graphic approach, illustrating a world with simplified characters and shapes, layers of textures, and bold colors. Repeat visits will reveal new stories, such as the child’s collection and distribution of a carefully crafted bouquet to other people, whose diversity refreshingly reflects a range of skin tones, hairstyles, body types, and interests.
A visual success conjuring up the best about the seasons’ changes. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Aug. 16, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-62779-415-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016
Unusual illustrations enhance an engaging, informative narrative.
What can a worm do?
A little worm sets off on a “twirl” to “see the world.” But when it overhears a human referring to it as “just a worm,” its feelings are hurt. The worm asks other critters—including a caterpillar, a spider, a dragonfly—what they can do. After each answer (turn into a butterfly, spin silk thread, fly), the worm becomes more and more dejected because it can’t do any of these things. “Maybe I am just a worm.” But then the worm encounters a ladybug, who eats aphids and other insects, and the worm realizes that it eats dead plants and animals and keeps gardens clean. And though the worm can’t pollinate like the bee, it does create castings (poop) that help plants grow and stay healthy. These abilities, the worm realizes in triumph, are important! The cleverness of this story lies in its lighthearted, effective dissemination of information about various insects as well as earthworms. It doesn’t hurt that the expressive little worm is downright adorable, with emotions that will resonate with anyone who has felt unimportant. The stunning illustrations are done in quilled paper—a centuries-old technique that involves assembling strips of colored paper into shapes—which adds sparkle and originality. A tutorial of how to make a quilled butterfly and a page on earthworm facts round out the book. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Unusual illustrations enhance an engaging, informative narrative. (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 14, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-06-321256-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2022
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