Geckos are neither so common nor so freighted with superstition in North America as they are in parts of Asia, but they are...
When part of a baby lizard’s tail is chopped off when it’s caught in a drawer, he searches for the “new look” his mother promises him.
In this appealing tale from India, the worried lizard approaches various animals, asking each for its tail. The squirrel, the cow and the cat explain why they can’t help: They need their tails. Three dogs just laugh. An elephant gently points out how silly he would look with another animal’s tail, and he finally agrees. By the time his search has ended and he returns home to his mother, his new tail has already begun to grow. Simply but capably told, with believable dialogue, the narrative is well-paced, allowing time for reflection. In spite of the startling “chop-slice” at the beginning, this is a wonderfully reassuring story. Kastl’s animals are not anthropomorphized, but they seem to smile. Her expressionistic paintings, textured with a palette knife, show well from a distance. With a Ganesh statue, a sign saying “Horn Please,” a family of monkeys and the caparisoned temple elephant, the setting reflects an Indian sensibility—but the story is universally understandable.
Geckos are neither so common nor so freighted with superstition in North America as they are in parts of Asia, but they are familiar and pleasing enough to make this an ideal choice for sharing with preschoolers. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 16, 2014
ISBN: 978-8-181-90150-7
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Karadi Tales
Review Posted Online: April 8, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2014
A soothing, logical, and playful introduction to mindfulness for young listeners.
What can you do when things go wrong?
Two children contemplate different ways to calm themselves down in this straightforward introduction to breathing, relaxation, and mindfulness. The younger, White-presenting child follows suit when the older, brown-skinned child proposes imaginative calming techniques. They picture themselves as various animals (goldfish, elephants, dragons) and objects (pinwheels, dandelions, wind chimes, flowers), inhaling and exhaling, that make deep breathing and calming down concrete and easy to comprehend. Simplified, whimsical illustrations add a touch of humor and a wink to the 1970s while preventing the story from becoming cloying, as soft, gentle instructions help the characters (and listeners) to understand some of the mechanics behind how to intentionally breathe and decompress. While not necessarily something that children will pick up unless they are learning about practicing mindfulness, this informative title has charm and warmth and will give youngsters some ideas as to how to self-regulate and manage their feelings as they learn to be aware of their breathing. Endpapers feature a multiracial array of children’s faces expressing different emotions.
A soothing, logical, and playful introduction to mindfulness for young listeners. (author's note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 13, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-77164-637-6
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Greystone Kids
Review Posted Online: Jan. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
The familiar singsong repetitiveness is catchy in all settings, holiday or otherwise.
A hoppy, snappy Easter version of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.
Three young tots, with varied skin tones and baskets ready in their hands, eagerly scamper on a spring day to find some eggs. But of course, they meet hindrances along the way. “Ooh, look … // Chickens! / Flapping, pecking chickens.” Thus starts the rolling refrain: “Can’t go over them. / Can’t go under them. / Can’t go around them. // Got to go through them!” The waddling chickens don’t pose much of an obstacle, but they do “Cluck-cluck!” loudly as they scatter in the sun. The three youngsters then must face “fluffy, hungry bunnies” (adorable long-eared puffballs with carrot fronds in their mouths) and “happy, hopping frogs” as they balance on stones to cross a pond. All of this leads to a garden bursting with colorful flowers (“Rustle-swish! / Rustle-swish!”) and finally…10 eggs in pastel patterns. Each egg has a number on it to encourage readers to count along and strengthen their numeracy skills. Rozelaar’s plump and rounded world, with roly-poly trees, flowers, and hills, wraps the tale in coziness.
The familiar singsong repetitiveness is catchy in all settings, holiday or otherwise. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9798887771304
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
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