by Sharon King-Chai ; illustrated by Sharon King-Chai ; developed by Iain-Clark ; Eye Fly High ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 31, 2014
A cheerful, charming story that works well as a storybook app.
The unspotted Lucy Ladybird doesn’t fit in with the rest of the ladybugs, so she sets off on a journey of self-discovery.
Lucy feels sad and lonely when all of the other ladybugs tell her, “You can’t be one of us.…You have no spots!” As she meets new friends—a frog, a caterpillar, a fish and a bird—she notices how they each have their own beautiful spots in different colors. At first Lucy tells them how much she wishes she could be like them, but in each case, her new companions insist she is beautiful as she is and then offer to give her one of their own spots. The story builds with a gentle repetitive pattern, weaving in counting and color practice for preschoolers. Bright illustrations exude a warm, cheerful feeling that’s reinforced by the story’s lesson of friendship and sharing. Young readers will enjoy the clear message, especially as all the animals decide at the end that multicolored spots are delightfully fun. Layered textures and smooth animations add interest and details to the illustrations. Clear navigation features help guide young users, and simple interactions keep their interest but never overwhelm the story. Like David McKee’s classic Elmer (1968), Lucy discovers a timeless lesson that variety is the spice of life.
A cheerful, charming story that works well as a storybook app. (iPad storybook app. 3-5)Pub Date: Aug. 31, 2014
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Sharon Chai
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2014
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Awards & Accolades
Likes
14
New York Times Bestseller
IndieBound Bestseller
by Adam Rubin & illustrated by Daniel Salmieri ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 14, 2012
A wandering effort, happy but pointless.
Awards & Accolades
Likes
14
New York Times Bestseller
IndieBound Bestseller
The perfect book for kids who love dragons and mild tacos.
Rubin’s story starts with an incantatory edge: “Hey, kid! Did you know that dragons love tacos? They love beef tacos and chicken tacos. They love really big gigantic tacos and tiny little baby tacos as well.” The playing field is set: dragons, tacos. As a pairing, they are fairly silly, and when the kicker comes in—that dragons hate spicy salsa, which ignites their inner fireworks—the silliness is sillier still. Second nature, after all, is for dragons to blow flames out their noses. So when the kid throws a taco party for the dragons, it seems a weak device that the clearly labeled “totally mild” salsa comes with spicy jalapenos in the fine print, prompting the dragons to burn down the house, resulting in a barn-raising at which more tacos are served. Harmless, but if there is a parable hidden in the dragon-taco tale, it is hidden in the unlit deep, and as a measure of lunacy, bridled or unbridled, it doesn’t make the leap into the outer reaches of imagination. Salmieri’s artwork is fitting, with a crabbed, ethereal line work reminiscent of Peter Sís, but the story does not offer it enough range.
A wandering effort, happy but pointless. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: June 14, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3680-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: March 27, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2012
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by Chloe Perkins ; illustrated by Sandra Equihua ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 13, 2016
A nice but not requisite purchase.
A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.
Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.
A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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