A story that, once read, readers may forgetolotl.
A community of anthropomorphized axolotls play and work during the course of a day.
Alarm clocks go off, and in their underwater home, axolotls of various types begin their days. On each double-spread page, rhyming couplets and spot art (with some full-bleed spreads scattered in between) work together to capture the daily—and very humanlike—activities of the aquatic salamanders, all of whom have portmanteau names. Flexolotl begins the day by lifting weights; Paxolotl packs a school bag with books; Zodiaxolotl consults a horoscope chart, and so on. But life is not all drudge and routine in their watery realm. We see Tuxolotl, “dressed up to the gills” in a tuxedo for a fancy occasion, and DJ Maxxolotl spinning music tables in a club, while other axolotls are “packing out the concert halls / with salamander song.” At day’s end, Soaxolotl takes a bath, Booxolotl reads, and, finally, the entire community settles in “to catch some ZZZs.” The book’s title could mislead readers who expect an abecedarian narrative. Some of the portmanteaus may confuse children: “Spandexolotl” exercises, but young readers may not make the spandex-workout connection, and Waxolotl waxes its legs, a practice that many children will be unfamiliar with. The goofy, over-the-top artwork rendered in an obtrusively bright palette and the dull, overly singsong rhymes leave little to readers’ imaginations.
A story that, once read, readers may forgetolotl. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-64170-644-5
Page Count: 20
Publisher: Familius
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2022
An amusing and lively read that celebrates a venerable literary form.
A bear desperate to hibernate seeks refuge from neighbors.
A big brown bear is dressed in pajamas and ready to turn in for winter when suddenly: “KNOCK KNOCK.” “Who’s there?” asks the bear. “Justin the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by!” responds a fox bearing an arm full of firewood, and thus begins a series of knock-knock jokes that brings more and more woodland neighbors into the bear’s home. The bear grows increasingly frustrated as the illustrations grow ever more frantic, the compositions filled with animals bearing party supplies, food, and gifts. Eventually it is revealed that the bear’s neighbors are merely wishing their friend a safe and happy hibernation, and readers as well as the grouchy bear will find their hearts warming as a tiny chipmunk embraces its leg, proclaiming, “Al miss you all winter long.” Little readers will enjoy the narrative Sauer builds on these knock-knock jokes, and the repetition of the format will encourage them to create some of their own. The dynamic illustrations pop with color and noise, juxtaposing nicely with the bear in PJs who’s clearly desperate for some shut-eye. The end goal of sleep makes this a nice bedtime read-aloud, particularly for little readers who may be resisting the end of the day, even as the giant, red “KNOCK KNOCK”s encourage raucous storytime participation.
An amusing and lively read that celebrates a venerable literary form. (Picture book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 31, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-338-11694-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: April 15, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2018
Likely to be popular with young Pete the Cat fans and parents seeking a gentle introduction to preschool.
The popular character enjoys storytime, painting, and a snack on the very first day of preschool.
The younger incarnation of Pete the Cat packs his backpack that he picked out from the store himself, gets a snack from his mom, and rides the school bus with his big brother, Bob (who isn’t much bigger than Pete, sizewise). At school, Pete meets his stylish teacher, Mrs. Lopez, and fellow feline classmates while keeping his signature cool. The day ends with Pete declaring: “Preschool is awesome! Pete loves everything!” James Dean’s big-eyed cats populate the simply drawn scenes that look as though they were painted in preschool-esque fashion with thick swaths of tempera. At a couple of moments (when he eats his banana and declares it tasty and when he sings along) his customarily expressionless face actually breaks into a smile. Kimberly Dean’s text is uninspired, but it’s in sync with the upbeat tone of the series. Pete’s preschool experience, while not particularly realistic, is a highly positive one; refreshingly, there is no trace of the separation anxiety or anxiousness found in many first-day-of-school books.
Likely to be popular with young Pete the Cat fans and parents seeking a gentle introduction to preschool. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: June 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-06243582-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: HarperFestival
Review Posted Online: July 23, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
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