A close but not cloying embrace of a book thanks to humorous touches.
This picture book narrated by a young boy celebrates the joys of cuddling, in several variations.
On this book’s rather puzzling opening page, the tousle-haired young narrator says he sometimes wakes up early in his own bed to find his parents on either side of him. (All are white.) Isn’t a child’s bed awfully crowded with two adults added? That aside, everyone seems to enjoy this “snuggle sandwich.” The narrator goes on to explain that snuggles are good when you’re happy or sad; pets like them, though some more than others (the expression on the cat’s face is priceless); and there are different kinds of snuggles. A snuggle plus a giggle is a sniggle, and snuggling plus tickling is snickling. The boy likes to imagine being a wildlife biologist and snuggling his favorite animals, like a gorilla, hyena, and zebra. Finally, the best way to end a busy day of snuggling is with “something that is warm, cozy, and feels like love”—another snuggle. Sweet and affectionate, Spivey’s debut book is something of a cuddle itself, lightened by funny moments. For example, a gorilla’s slightly too-tight snuggle makes the narrator reflect: “Now I know how my cat feels!” Hembrough’s colorful, dynamic debut illustrations support the text well, underlining the comedy in some scenes—for example, when a zebra’s kick sends the narrator flying (maybe snickling wasn’t a good idea).
A close but not cloying embrace of a book thanks to humorous touches.Pub Date: June 8, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-692-07938-6
Page Count: 34
Publisher: Get Your Snuggle On
Review Posted Online: July 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Broccoli: No way is James going to eat broccoli. “It’s disgusting,” says James. Well then, James, says his father, let’s consider the alternatives: some wormy dirt, perhaps, some stinky socks, some pre-chewed gum? James reconsiders the broccoli, but—milk? “Blech,” says James. Right, says his father, who needs strong bones? You’ll be great at hide-and-seek, though not so great at baseball and kickball and even tickling the dog’s belly. James takes a mouthful. So it goes through lumpy oatmeal, mushroom lasagna and slimy eggs, with James’ father parrying his son’s every picky thrust. And it is fun, because the father’s retorts are so outlandish: the lasagna-making troll in the basement who will be sent back to the rat circus, there to endure the rodent’s vicious bites; the uneaten oatmeal that will grow and grow and probably devour the dog that the boy won’t be able to tickle any longer since his bones are so rubbery. Schneider’s watercolors catch the mood of gentle ribbing, the looks of bewilderment and surrender and the deadpanned malarkey. It all makes James’ father’s last urging—“I was just going to say that you might like them if you tried them”—wholly fresh and unexpected advice. (Early reader. 5-9)
Pub Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-547-14956-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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