Though it may seem anything but, the traditional message of welcoming guests in holiday observance still holds.
When the Brenners invite a retired circus elephant to join them in their sukkah, adjustments are creatively made to accommodate his large size in their small ceremonial hut.
Lonely and bored in his new home, a farm for old elephants, Henry misses the singing and music from his old act. One day he wanders away, comes across the singing of a family gathered in their sukkah for the holiday of Sukkot, and eventually meets young Ori Brenner, who invites him to join the family. As Henry is much too large to fit, the family removes one of the walls of the hut to allow Henry to stand just within, acting as the third wall. Basing her story on an obscure argument in the Talmud that actually states that sukkah walls can be made from anything natural and sturdy, even an elephant, Mandell turns this preposterous example into a story of altruism—albeit a very silly one. Amiable illustrations of a bespectacled, anthropomorphic elephant next to the diminutive members of the Jewish family (all presenting white, with kippot perched on the heads of all the males, including a cat and a dog) add to this lighthearted commemoration of the fall harvest celebration.
Though it may seem anything but, the traditional message of welcoming guests in holiday observance still holds. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5415-2212-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kar-Ben
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2019
Betty fails to score with this underinflated effort.
Betty Bunny returns for a fourth entry in this successful series, focusing this time on scoring a goal for her soccer team.
In the previous stories in the series, Betty’s delightfully intense personality was defined through her obsession with chocolate cake, her over-the-top shopping spree in a toy store, and an incident involving lying and its consequences. These laugh-out-loud stories captured Betty’s precocious intellect and strong emotions, creating a believable character with a lovable streak of creative naughtiness. Alas, this time Betty just wants to score a goal on the soccer field like all the other little animals. She makes many mistakes in her first game, with her deflated attitude further depressed by snide comments from her older brothers. After just one week of coaching by her oldest brother, Betty scores her coveted goal in the next game and feels “the happiest moment of her life”—except for the first time she ate chocolate cake. The soccer plot feels forced onto Betty rather than growing out of her distinct personality, and some of the soccer jokes, such as scoring a goal in your own net, will be understood only by those children who already play soccer. Even the illustrations seem a little forced and crowded, lacking the distinctive sparkle of the previous stories.
Betty fails to score with this underinflated effort. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3859-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 28, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The duo promises further adventures for their little clothed kitty—she’s off to a good start.
What kind of adventure will Little Lola have?
Little Lola wakes up early one morning. That is part of the plan, delineated in a to-do list. She must stretch, hide, read the paper, play games and have an adventure! Finding pink glasses, a pert little outfit and a backpack, she decides to board a school bus. When she gets to school, she’s excited; everything and everyone has a place. She practices writing and arithmetic. She practices painting and playing, singing and sharing. She loves everything about school, but she loves storytime and show and tell best of all. She thinks she has the best thing for show and tell…but the mouse she presents scares everyone, and the classroom erupts in chaos. Lola puts everything back (some rather out of place), and all the children say goodbye, and they hope to see her tomorrow. This debut for husband-and-wife team Saab and Gothard will be a good addition to the off-to-school canon. The spot and full-bleed watercolor illustrations have a retro, Scarry-esque look, complementing the declarative text that bubbles over with Lola’s enthusiasm. Little listeners uncertain about going off to school might find solace in Lola’s excitement.
The duo promises further adventures for their little clothed kitty—she’s off to a good start. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: April 22, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-06-227457-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 14, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
