A fun story of friendship and forgiveness for young independent readers and patient lap readers.
The Golfing Bee is back in a new rule-learning adventure from Kranz and Motz (The Golfing Bee, 2016).
Wendell, whose friend George gave the bee a miniature set of clubs and a golfer’s outfit in their first story, is eager to spend more time on the golf course. He sleeps with his clubs, and on a rainy day, he practices his swing in the hive. When the sun finally comes out, he greets George and follows along with the game. At first, mud splashes everywhere, even over Wendell when he gets too close! Flying higher, Wendell admires how the ball spins. When George’s ball gets stuck in a sand trap, “called a bunker,” Kranz helpfully notes, Wendell works to free the ball. With a ladybug and a spider, Wendell has almost moved the ball when George shouts at him to stop: moving the ball is breaking the rules! Wendell is ashamed, and his feelings are hurt. After swinging and missing the ball a number of times, George realizes that he needs to apologize. He knows Wendell was only trying to help. Friends with Wendell again, George is able to hit the ball, and Wendell plans to learn more about golf’s rules. Wendell’s reaction after getting yelled at for trying to help will strike a chord with young readers, and George’s abashed apology may feel familiar to parents; that the pair ends their night together looking forward to the next day is a comforting lesson on friendship and/or parent-child relationships. Kranz’s vocabulary is accessible, although the congested text might intimidate readers. Motz’s large, brightly colored illustrations, which manage to show the size differential between bee and human without complicating the composition, are a huge draw. One illustration, in which the ball is hidden in the bunker, is especially fun for children who enjoy seek-and-find–style books. The cartoonish anthropomorphic bee and his round-eyed golfer friend are likable even when at odds. Wendell’s hive room, complete with bed, is still a mystery, but young readers are unlikely to be bothered by the bee-sized furniture.
A fun story of friendship and forgiveness for young independent readers and patient lap readers.Pub Date: Nov. 10, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-9983495-0-3
Page Count: 36
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: May 21, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
The seemingly ageless Seeger brings back his renowned giant for another go in a tuneful tale that, like the art, is a bit sketchy, but chockful of worthy messages. Faced with yearly floods and droughts since they’ve cut down all their trees, the townsfolk decide to build a dam—but the project is stymied by a boulder that is too huge to move. Call on Abiyoyo, suggests the granddaughter of the man with the magic wand, then just “Zoop Zoop” him away again. But the rock that Abiyoyo obligingly flings aside smashes the wand. How to avoid Abiyoyo’s destruction now? Sing the monster to sleep, then make it a peaceful, tree-planting member of the community, of course. Seeger sums it up in a postscript: “every community must learn to manage its giants.” Hays, who illustrated the original (1986), creates colorful, if unfinished-looking, scenes featuring a notably multicultural human cast and a towering Cubist fantasy of a giant. The song, based on a Xhosa lullaby, still has that hard-to-resist sing-along potential, and the themes of waging peace, collective action, and the benefits of sound ecological practices are presented in ways that children will both appreciate and enjoy. (Picture book. 5-9)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-689-83271-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2001
More gift book than storybook, this is a meaningful addition to nursery bookshelves
A young child explores the unlimited potential inherent in all humans.
“Have you ever wondered why you are here?” asks the second-person narration. There is no one like you. Maybe you’re here to make a difference with your uniqueness; maybe you will speak for those who can’t or use your gifts to shine a light into the darkness. The no-frills, unrhymed narrative encourages readers to follow their hearts and tap into their limitless potential to be anything and do anything. The precisely inked and colored artwork plays with perspective from the first double-page spread, in which the child contemplates a mountain (or maybe an iceberg) in their hands. Later, they stand on a ladder to place white spots on tall, red mushrooms. The oversized flora and fauna seem to symbolize the presumptively insurmountable, reinforcing the book’s message that anything is possible. This quiet read, with its sophisticated central question, encourages children to reach for their untapped potential while reminding them it won’t be easy—they will make messes and mistakes—but the magic within can help overcome falls and failures. It’s unlikely that members of the intended audience have begun to wonder about their life’s purpose, but this life-affirming mood piece has honorable intentions. The child, accompanied by an adorable piglet and sporting overalls and a bird-beaked cap made of leaves, presents white.
More gift book than storybook, this is a meaningful addition to nursery bookshelves . (Picture book. 2-8)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-946873-75-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: May 21, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2019
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