A joyful and nuanced take on a popular subject.
An ode to the rain reveals the cyclical nature of seasons.
Addressing the rain directly, a child celebrates all that is wonderful about rain, including its “fresh happy smell,” the muddy puddles it creates, and the water it provides for plants. Pale-skinned and dark-haired with round dot eyes and pink circles on their cheeks, the Asian-presenting narrator thanks the rain for “the water for my bath / and for Mom’s herbal tea.” Saturated colors and lush patterns bring a vibrancy to the landscapes, while a variety of compositions ranging from full-page spreads to smaller vignettes add depth. The rain properly glorified, the poem cleverly shifts in tone. “But maybe that’s enough now, Rain.” Creeks are full, animals are huddled under the foliage, and the child must hug their dog close during the thunder. The rain does stop eventually, and outdoor activities resume, including riding a scooter and running through sprinklers. But the hot weather becomes unbearable, and the child implores the rain, “Don’t stay gone forever.” The grass turns brown, and the plants are thirsty. Finally, as the book comes full circle, the rain returns. “Welcome, Rain!” Those who live in climates where the rain disappears for months at a time will especially appreciate the cycle of wet and dry seasons, but children everywhere will identify with the different experiences that rain (or no rain) brings. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A joyful and nuanced take on a popular subject. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 11, 2023
ISBN: 9781771646956
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Greystone Kids
Review Posted Online: Feb. 7, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2023
Echoes of Runaway Bunny color this exchange between a bath-averse piglet and his patient mother. Using a strategy that would probably be a nonstarter in real life, the mother deflects her stubborn offspring’s string of bath-free occupational conceits with appeals to reason: “Pirates NEVER EVER take baths!” “Pirates don’t get seasick either. But you do.” “Yeesh. I’m an astronaut, okay?” “Well, it is hard to bathe in zero gravity. It’s hard to poop and pee in zero gravity too!” And so on, until Mom’s enticing promise of treasure in the deep sea persuades her little Treasure Hunter to take a dive. Chunky figures surrounded by lots of bright white space in Segal’s minimally detailed watercolors keep the visuals as simple as the plotline. The language isn’t quite as basic, though, and as it rendered entirely in dialogue—Mother Pig’s lines are italicized—adult readers will have to work hard at their vocal characterizations for it to make any sense. Moreover, younger audiences (any audiences, come to that) may wonder what the piggy’s watery closing “EUREKA!!!” is all about too. Not particularly persuasive, but this might coax a few young porkers to get their trotters into the tub. (Picture book. 4-6)
Pub Date: March 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-399-25425-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: Jan. 25, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Good fun for all little ninjas and their parents.
After swinging out from the jungle after a long day of ninja-ing, Will makes his way home just in time for a bath. But as all ninjas know, danger lurks around every corner.
Even naughty ninjas get hungry, but Dad says, “Pee-yew,” and insists his little ninja get clean before going near a morsel. Ever the Naughty Ninja, Will follows his dad into the bathroom and immediately spies danger: Poisonous flies that have followed him from the jungle! As any parent would, his dad begs him not to say, “Ninja to the rescue,” because we all know what comes after a catchphrase…chaos! Through each increasingly rough rescue, Dad finds himself more and more defeated in his quest to complete bathtime, but ultimately he starts to find the infectious joy that only the ridiculousness of children can bring out in an adult. The art is bright and finds some nifty ninja perspectives that use the space well. It also places an interracial family at its center: Dad has brown skin and dark, puffy hair, and Mom is a white redhead; when out of his ninja cowl, Will looks like a slightly lighter-skinned version of his father. Kids will laugh at everything the dad is put through, and parents will knowingly nod, because we have all had nights with little ninjas soaking the bathroom floor. The book starts out a little text heavy but finds its groove quickly, reading smoothly going forward. Lots of action means it’s best not to save this one for bedtime.
Good fun for all little ninjas and their parents. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5420-9433-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Two Lions
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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