An enjoyable, vividly illustrated story with an evergreen message.
Two pieces of fruit swap places in Kearney’s debut picture book.
As it hangs on a tree, an apple watches boats pass by on the ocean, but it can’t hear the water over the sounds of rustling leaves and branches. Meanwhile, a pineapple growing in a nearby field hears the sea, but its view is blocked by “tough leaves.” The fruits both wish upon a star “for what the other [fruit] had”; in the morning, they’ve switched locations. At first, they enjoy their fresh perspectives; the pineapple “felt the wind and watched the sea,” and the apple “listened to the joyful sound of the ocean waves.” However, the apple eventually turns soggy, and the pineapple becomes dehydrated. They wish upon another shooting star so that they may return to their homes; the next morning, they’re each back in their original locations, where they thrive. The story emphasizes natural sights and sounds as it encourages youngsters not only to seek new experiences, but also to appreciate what they have. Kedzierski’s scenic, full-color illustrations are dreamy and serene; the picturesque backgrounds feature gradient sunsets and multihued waters, and the fruits in the foreground have expressive faces. Others images incorporate realistic greenery and creatures such as butterflies, snails, and a fox.
An enjoyable, vividly illustrated story with an evergreen message.Pub Date: March 21, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-73307-050-8
Page Count: 34
Publisher: Wood Acres Press
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Little Blue’s fans will enjoy the animal sounds and counting opportunities, but it’s the sparkling lights on the truck’s own...
The sturdy Little Blue Truck is back for his third adventure, this time delivering Christmas trees to his band of animal pals.
The truck is decked out for the season with a Christmas wreath that suggests a nose between headlights acting as eyeballs. Little Blue loads up with trees at Toad’s Trees, where five trees are marked with numbered tags. These five trees are counted and arithmetically manipulated in various ways throughout the rhyming story as they are dropped off one by one to Little Blue’s friends. The final tree is reserved for the truck’s own use at his garage home, where he is welcomed back by the tree salestoad in a neatly circular fashion. The last tree is already decorated, and Little Blue gets a surprise along with readers, as tiny lights embedded in the illustrations sparkle for a few seconds when the last page is turned. Though it’s a gimmick, it’s a pleasant surprise, and it fits with the retro atmosphere of the snowy country scenes. The short, rhyming text is accented with colored highlights, red for the animal sounds and bright green for the numerical words in the Christmas-tree countdown.
Little Blue’s fans will enjoy the animal sounds and counting opportunities, but it’s the sparkling lights on the truck’s own tree that will put a twinkle in a toddler’s eyes. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-544-32041-3
Page Count: 24
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
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