Pawsitive vibes all around. (Picture book. 4-8)
A beloved pet questions her place in the world.
Maple, the Parkers’ dog, loves her routines: tug of war with Jax, reading with Avery, and extra-long walks with Mom or Dad. She fits right in as the family’s fifth member. But, out in the neighborhood, people question whether Maple truly belongs. Is she a husky or a wolf? Most say wolf. The Parkers try to convince everyone otherwise, but even Maple begins to have her doubts. She looks like a wolf. She hunts like a wolf. She howls like a wolf and digs like a wolf. Maple’s soul-searching eventually leads her to dart off into a nature preserve near the Parkers’ home. But out in the wild, the ground is tougher and the squirrels are harder to catch. Before too long, Maple misses her pack of humans. Will she make it back in time for her evening walk? Kurpiel’s debut is a tender family story about belonging despite appearances. The cartoon illustrations are packed with small details that enhance the story beyond the text (such as the chewed-up stuffed animals that are Maple’s prey). One especially delightful page turn breaks the frame in multiple places with a hilarious super-close-up. The family presents white, and community members are diverse in skin tone. Avery uses an electric wheelchair. The doggy-filled endpapers also depict a wheelchair-using bull terrier.
Pawsitive vibes all around. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 12, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-06-294382-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2020
A darling book for all children but especially those with autism.
A young bat who does things a little differently from her classmates figures out a way to thrive.
At school, Bitsy Bat hangs from a chair by her toes instead of sitting, uses her feet rather than her fingers to paint, and brings an ant for her snack. Between the “too-bright light,” the “too-loud words,” and a chorus of “Wrong!” from Winnie the rabbit, Bitsy melts down. But with some support from her parents and teacher, Bitsy has a great idea—some accommodations help her feel comfortable enough to learn, and a classroom activity helps her and her classmates see how she, and each of them, is special. The story is highly relatable to any young reader just getting used to school but is specifically targeted at autistic children. Though the word itself doesn’t appear in the main story, backmatter offers more information about autism, framed in a positive, supportive way. The adorable, lively illustrations bring the point home well. Bitsy is depicted right-side-up at home with her family, though the world around them is upside-down. At school, she is upside-down but much happier than when she was trying to be right-side-up like the other kids. With a lot to see on every page, children won’t get bored with repeat reads, and they’ll even learn a lesson along the way. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A darling book for all children but especially those with autism. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 6, 2023
ISBN: 9781665905053
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: April 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2023
A delightful modern tall tale sure to entertain and inspire readers to share (and embroider) their own stories.
When Ramsey’s grandma, who is just a wee bit grumpy, sees his painting of an octopus, she’s inspired to make pulpo guisado—octopus stew—and adventure ensues.
Ramsey and Grandma, both Afro-Latinx, head to the store, where they find an octopus with wide and expressive eyes—Ramsey suspects it is still alive. He searches his phone for information about octopuses and gets a warning he tries to share with his grandmother, but she is too annoyed at the interruption to listen. Once home, Grandma cleans the octopus, but shortly after the creature is dropped into boiling water, noises come from the kitchen they can’t explain. In the kitchen, they see the octopus has escaped the pot. It is now a giant monster Ramsey must fight in order to save Grandma, who is being squeezed by the octopus’s arms. At the height of the action, the story is interrupted by Ramsey’s father, who declares disbelief in a double gate-fold revealing that Ramsey is telling this story to his rapt family, making it both an entertaining tale in itself and a comment on the power of storytelling. This narrative is related primarily in English with some accompanying, unitalicized Spanish phrases. The backmatter includes an author’s note, a Spanish glossary with pronunciation key, and a recipe for octopus stew.
A delightful modern tall tale sure to entertain and inspire readers to share (and embroider) their own stories. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3754-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2019
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