A thoughtful morality tale wrapped up in colorful pictures and silly rhyming verse that is a joy to read aloud.
A selfish clam learns the hard way that a lack of kindness can have serious consequences in Mendelson’s picture book.
Seymour the clam lives a solitary life under the ocean. One day, a crowd gathers outside his home—fishermen have arrived, and the other sea creatures beg Seymour to shelter them so they can avoid the dreaded fishing nets. But the clam refuses; when he eventually does open his door, he discovers the fish are gone…and he is promptly caught up in a fishing net himself. They are all carted off to shore, where the sea creatures’ loud squabbling prompts the boat’s captain to sell them all at a discount to Morris and Murray, the owners of a Miami seafood store. The animals’ constant fighting scares away all the customers, and when a group comes in looking to buy fish to put in the city’s aquarium, Morris and Murray happily agree to sell them all. Seymour continues complaining, however, so it’s decided he’ll be left behind. The clam is eventually bought by a desperate chef who turns him into “sour” chowder while the rest of the fish enjoy their new lives in the aquarium. Mendelson’s text is written entirely in verse, with a rhyme scheme of AABCC that makes it particularly fun to read aloud—some rhymes prove downright impressive: “But people who live in our municipality / long to see fishes that have personality.” The story starts to sag a bit toward the end, with a few pages feeling like filler (particularly the scenes in which Morris and Murray debate whether to buy the fish and the aquarium representatives arrive). Still, the fishes’ grumbling and some well-placed slapstick comedy help carry the plot through to the end. Bulow’s colorful illustrations, filled with cartoonish anthropomorphic fish and bold colors, perfectly balance the narrative’s surprisingly dark ending.
A thoughtful morality tale wrapped up in colorful pictures and silly rhyming verse that is a joy to read aloud.Pub Date: Feb. 21, 2025
ISBN: 9798891555235
Page Count: 50
Publisher: Austin Macauley
Review Posted Online: June 17, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A lesson that never grows old, enacted with verve by two favorite friends
Gerald the elephant learns a truth familiar to every preschooler—heck, every human: “Waiting is not easy!”
When Piggie cartwheels up to Gerald announcing that she has a surprise for him, Gerald is less than pleased to learn that the “surprise is a surprise.” Gerald pumps Piggie for information (it’s big, it’s pretty, and they can share it), but Piggie holds fast on this basic principle: Gerald will have to wait. Gerald lets out an almighty “GROAN!” Variations on this basic exchange occur throughout the day; Gerald pleads, Piggie insists they must wait; Gerald groans. As the day turns to twilight (signaled by the backgrounds that darken from mauve to gray to charcoal), Gerald gets grumpy. “WE HAVE WASTED THE WHOLE DAY!…And for WHAT!?” Piggie then gestures up to the Milky Way, which an awed Gerald acknowledges “was worth the wait.” Willems relies even more than usual on the slightest of changes in posture, layout and typography, as two waiting figures can’t help but be pretty static. At one point, Piggie assumes the lotus position, infuriating Gerald. Most amusingly, Gerald’s elephantine groans assume weighty physicality in spread-filling speech bubbles that knock Piggie to the ground. And the spectacular, photo-collaged images of the Milky Way that dwarf the two friends makes it clear that it was indeed worth the wait.
A lesson that never grows old, enacted with verve by two favorite friends . (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4231-9957-1
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Cuándo quieras un perro feliz, look no further.
A young Latine boy finally gets to rescue the dog of his dreams, but training can be a challenge in two languages.
Like many children, José has been dreaming of having a pet of his own, specifically un perro, a dog. Like any good owner, José promptly begins training his new canine companion but soon realizes his rescue mutt, Feliz, knows only words in English. This is a problem because in José’s home everyone speaks both Spanish and English. José and Feliz must rise to the challenge; fortunately, treats and snuggles are great motivators. The narrative uses Spanish words and phrases throughout (“perros blancos,” “¡Yo quiero este!” “¡Sientate!”), usually with English context clues for understanding. This is complex vocabulary for an early reader, and the shifting in phonics from English to Spanish will be challenging for true beginners; the book is best suited for intermediate to advanced readers in dual-language classrooms or homes. Much like Feliz, however, it is sure to find a loving (and bilingual) home. Cheerful illustrations complement the text, helping readers make sense of the narrative. While José and his mother are darker-skinned, his father and sister are lighter-skinned. (This review has been updated for accuracy.)
Cuándo quieras un perro feliz, look no further. (glossary of Spanish-English words) (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-52116-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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