A ravenous wolf and a duckling become an unlikely pair in this humorous tale about best-laid plans that have gone wildly awry. Mrs. Wolf is in the mood for a bite of duck when she discovers a duck’s egg in the road. With eyes on a bigger meal, she discards the notion of scrambled eggs and decides to hatch the duckling instead; perching on the egg until the little guy emerges. Like all hatchlings, the first thing the duck sees becomes imprinted as its mother; in this case it’s a very surprised Mrs. Wolf. The sly wolf concocts a dastardly plan to fatten up the fowl. The ever-building suspense reaches its peak when the now plump Funny Feet asks the fateful question, “What’s for dinner?” “ ‘Guess!’ said Mrs. Wolf . . .‘A potato?’ asked Funny Feet. ‘ No fatter and juicier,’ said Mrs. Wolf, reaching for Funny Feet.” However, the joke’s on the readers as the clever duckling races out to retrieve a juicy watermelon from the garden for their evening meal. Older children will appreciate the wry humor of the food-oriented pet names Mrs. Wolf bestows on Funny Feet, such as “my little sugar puff” and “my little muffin.” Young’s cartoon-style illustrations are free from any menacing overtones. Mrs. Wolf, stylishly attired in a green cardigan and a homey, blue-checked apron, is as harmless-looking as an exuberant puppy. The sunlit watercolors depicting cozy pastoral scenes portray the ever-increasing size of Funny Feet and the growing affection between Mrs. Wolf and her protégé. Humorous touches in the illustrations, like the delectably devious thoughts of Mrs. Wolf, comically captured in thought-clouds suspended overhead, will keep readers howling. The book also includes suggestions for read-aloud sessions and extension activities for parents and caregivers to enrich the child’s reading experience. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-7894-6355-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: DK Publishing
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2000
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series.
Another creature is on the loose.
The long-running series continues its successful formula with this Hallmark card of a book, which features bright illustrations and catchy rhymes. This time, the mythical creature the racially diverse children set out to catch is an absent mom who does it all (lists of descriptors include the words banker, caregiver, nurse, doctor, driver, chef, housekeeper, teacher, entertainer, playmate, laundry service, problem solver, handywoman, cleaner, and alarm clock) but doesn’t seem to have a job outside the home and is inexplicably a dinosaur. As the children prepare gifts and a meal for her, the text becomes an ode to the skills the Mamasaurus possesses (“Day or night she’s always there. / She meets every wish and need”) and values she instills (“Sometimes life can mean hard work,” “kindness matters,” and “what counts is doing your best”). This well-intentioned selection veers into cliche generously sprinkled with saccharine but manages to redeem itself with its appreciation for mothers and all that they may do. Endpapers include a “to” and “from” page framed in a heart, as well as a page where young gift givers or recipients can draw a picture of their Mamasaurus.
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781728274300
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
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