A fine offshoot of a holiday classic.
In this tale modeled after “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” a family celebrates Three Kings Day.
Two sisters have a festive night as their family puts on a small party to observe the January 6 holiday observed in many regions, including Puerto Rico, where the author’s family is from. The day honors the Three Wise Men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus, and in this homage to Clement Clarke Moore’s famous poem, they take the place of Santa Claus at the story’s conclusion. After the sisters decorate shoeboxes to hold gifts from the visitors, music is played and food is served (“In the small comedor was my great big familia / boquitas wide open for our scrumptious comida”). When the Three Wise Men do appear, one of the sisters witnesses the gift drop, which includes dolls, candy, and money. Spanish is sprinkled throughout (“There down en la calle I saw quite a sight”); a glossary at the end defines the words. Cozy, stylized cartoon illustrations bring to life a loving brown-skinned extended family, full of warmth and good cheer. The story itself and the backmatter explain the holiday well for those unfamiliar with it. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A fine offshoot of a holiday classic. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2023
ISBN: 9780063234321
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2023
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
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Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
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