This tale of who’s the preferred pet will charm animal lovers of all stripes.
Who’s Lily’s favorite pet? Pussycat Mr. Fuzzbuster thinks he knows.
Mr. Fuzzbuster and the ponytailed white girl have been together since “he fit in a teacup and she fit in diapers.” Even though Fishy Face the goldfish, King the lizard, Feathers the parrot, and Bruiser the dog have joined the family, Mr. Fuzzbuster’s still sure he’s the favorite; he even has documentary proof in an old drawing of Lily’s. The others still have doubts, so the pets draft a note asking Lily to decide who’s the favorite once and for all. Lily turns to Fishy Face, causing Mr. Fuzzbuster to worry….But Lily says, “Fishy Face, you are my favorite…” (here Hemingway introduces suspense with a page turn) “…goldfish.” She tells her pets in turn that each is her favorite of its species. Certain he is the favorite of favorites, Mr. Fuzzbuster consoles the others by telling them how catlike they are (and how he has never considered eating them)…but when Lily specifies that Mr. Fuzzbuster is simply her favorite cat, he decides to leave—until he remembers who his favorite is. McAnulty’s text, related in third-person with a tight focus on Mr. Fuzzbuster, slyly exploits the protagonist’s overinflated ego. Hemingway’s bold and bright cartoon illustrations, a mixture of spot and full-bleed on patterned backgrounds, feature expressive animals and provide a nifty punch line at the close.
This tale of who’s the preferred pet will charm animal lovers of all stripes. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5039-4838-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Two Lions
Review Posted Online: Oct. 18, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2016
Though Jim may have been grumpy because a chimp’s an ape and not a monkey, readers will enjoy and maybe learn from his...
It’s a wonderful day in the jungle, so why’s Jim Panzee so grumpy?
When Jim woke up, nothing was right: "The sun was too bright, the sky was too blue, and bananas were too sweet." Norman the gorilla asks Jim why he’s so grumpy, and Jim insists he’s not. They meet Marabou, to whom Norman confides that Jim’s grumpy. When Jim denies it again, Marabou points out that Jim’s shoulders are hunched; Jim stands up. When they meet Lemur, Lemur points out Jim’s bunchy eyebrows; Jim unbunches them. When he trips over Snake, Snake points out Jim’s frown…so Jim puts on a grimacelike smile. Everyone has suggestions to brighten his mood: dancing, singing, swinging, swimming…but Jim doesn’t feel like any of that. He gets so fed up, he yells at his animal friends and stomps off…then he feels sad about yelling. He and Norman (who regrets dancing with that porcupine) finally just have a sit and decide it’s a wonderful day to be grumpy—which, of course, makes them both feel a little better. Suzanne Lang’s encouragement to sit with your emotions (thus allowing them to pass) is nearly Buddhist in its take, and it will be great bibliotherapy for the crabby, cranky, and cross. Oscar-nominated animator Max Lang’s cartoony illustrations lighten the mood without making light of Jim’s mood; Jim has comically long arms, and his facial expressions are quite funny.
Though Jim may have been grumpy because a chimp’s an ape and not a monkey, readers will enjoy and maybe learn from his journey. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 15, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-553-53786-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Feb. 18, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn.
A young owl achieves his grand ambition.
Owl, an adorably earnest and gallant little owlet, dreams of being a knight. He imagines himself defeating dragons and winning favor far and wide through his brave exploits. When a record number of knights go missing, Owl applies to Knight School and is surprisingly accepted. He is much smaller than the other knights-in-training, struggles to wield weapons, and has “a habit of nodding off during the day.” Nevertheless, he graduates and is assigned to the Knight Night Watch. While patrolling the castle walls one night, a hungry dragon shows up and Owl must use his wits to avoid meeting a terrible end. The result is both humorous and heartwarming, offering an affirmation of courage and clear thinking no matter one’s size…and demonstrating the power of a midnight snack. The story never directly addresses the question of the missing knights, but it is hinted that they became the dragon’s fodder, leaving readers to question Owl’s decision to befriend the beast. Humor is supplied by the characters’ facial expressions and accented by the fact that Owl is the only animal in his order of big, burly human knights. Denise’s accomplished digital illustrations—many of which are full bleeds—often use a warm sepia palette that evokes a feeling of antiquity, and some spreads feature a pleasing play of chiaroscuro that creates suspense and drama.
A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-31062-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2022
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