Unfortunately, the well-meaning message is delivered by a character whose lack of affect has no likely appeal for the...
A particularly poker-faced clown searches far and wide for happiness after the circus closes, only to find it after a most unexpected and unpleasant event.
On the cover Bobo’s smile is missing. Even though the endpapers offer myriad upturned mouths to choose from, recovering his smile will not come so easily. Yes, life was good when he could make people laugh, but that all vanishes when the circus is shuttered. Initially sad, the clown decides to take a trip around the world. Chwast’s flat, bright colors outlined in ink on muted pastel backgrounds illustrate his many adventures: in an airplane, on a roller coaster, astride an elephant and underwater. Each framed picture portrays a straight-faced Bobo experiencing it all. The first-person narration, delivered in an easy-to-read text, accompanies the retro graphic art. “Finally it was time to go home.” The following wordless spread reveals a bewildered Bobo crossing a city street teeming with vehicles. Somewhat shockingly the page turn shows a suspicious man all in brown robbing the colorful clown. This results in the buttons falling off of his clothes and hat. He then begins to juggle the buttons—still with an expressionless face. Soon his juggling draws a crowd. Then he smiles.
Unfortunately, the well-meaning message is delivered by a character whose lack of affect has no likely appeal for the intended preschool audience. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: April 15, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-56846-221-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Creative Editions/Creative Company
Review Posted Online: Feb. 21, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2012
Goodhearted, if silly.
How can the little vampire enjoy the beach with his friends?
Asiago lives in a castle with his great-uncle Gouda. He likes to play his accordion and swing from a rope, and at night he turns into a bat. When his friend Wendy calls to invite him to the beach, he really isn't sure what a beach is. But he finds an old bathing suit (with cool purple stripes) and is ready to go. Asiago's fun is short-lived: He turns bright red in the sizzling sun, which even sets his ears to smoking. Wendy rescues him with her beach umbrella, but he can't really play, and he gets a splinter from the dock (almost as dangerous as a stake) and a stomach ache from the clams she gives him to eat (all he really likes is garlic). At home, Asiago can't help thinking about his not-so-great day at the beach. Wendy and his other friends save the day with a great idea; they surprise Asiago in his coffin and return with him to the beach... at night. McHeffey's clean colored-pencil illustrations add style and mirth to his simple tale of friendship. His characterization and plotting, however, leave something to be desired. Adults will wonder why these vampires are named for cheeses, and children will wonder how the nocturnal vampire managed to make human friends?
Goodhearted, if silly. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: April 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-7614-6138-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Review Posted Online: Feb. 14, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2012
A webbed-foot folly that makes a tale most jolly.
Put on your jazziest socks and get ready to bop, ‘cause it’s duck hop time!
In syncopated rhymes, this “quackerjack” of a silly story will have toes tappin’ and little hands clappin’. “Ducks pull socks from a big sock box:” socks with stripes, spots, squares, dots, stars, moons, cars and spoons. “Warm up, wiggle, stretch your beak. / Duck Sock Hop comes once a week.” The music starts, and “[t]hree ducks boogie, one duck rocks. / Two ducks stop and trade their socks.” With each spread, the dancing ducks get livelier and more animated, until the music stops and they all need new socks. The bright colors of the illustrations paint different patterns on each duck, entirely separate from their wild and crazy socks. Set against white backgrounds, they pop and rock with the rhythm of the rhymes. Ready made for wonderful fun at story time (sock theme, anyone?) or as one rollicking lap read, but be prepared, as kids will flock to hear it again. And after just one or two reads, they will be chanting along with the adults.
A webbed-foot folly that makes a tale most jolly. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 10, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3712-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: March 13, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2012
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