Readers will enjoy spotting a pile of books, a basketball, and a skateboard among Daniela’s personal cargo as they go...
An intrepid redhead à la Pippi Longstocking sails the seven seas tracking down the most feared pirate ship in all the world—the Black Croc.
In this piratical offering from Spain, Daniela is determined to join the Black Croc’s nefarious crew, and nothing the captain demands quells her indomitable spirit. Swim to the bottom of the sea and back again with a giant squid—no problem. One hundred squats while hoisting a treasure-filled chest overhead—bring it on. Jump into a croc-infested pit—piece of cake. Be a pirate—nope! Girls can’t be pirates. Chauvinistic Capt. Choppylobe will not be budged, so his commendably diverse crew takes a vote. Hooray for Capt. Daniela! The Black Croc is still the scourge of the seven seas…and an equal-opportunity outfit to boot. Isern’s salty (but a trifle long) tale reads equally smoothly in both the original Spanish (publishing in the U.S. simultaneously) and English translation, with the exception of the odd-sounding captain’s name. Orejacortada could have been translated as Sliced-ear, Nicked-ear, Chopped-ear, etc. Gómez’s exuberant and colorfully detailed illustrations carry the sagging midpoint forward and reinforce the Pippi Longstocking motif. From Daniela’s superhuman strength to her very own treasure chest, echoes of the Swedish icon haunt the text. But even the grimacing Black Croc’s prow smiles by story’s end despite the buccaneers’ heavy-handed if praiseworthy speech about fairness.
Readers will enjoy spotting a pile of books, a basketball, and a skateboard among Daniela’s personal cargo as they go adventuring with her and her scurvy crew. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 4, 2018
ISBN: 978-84-17123-12-3
Page Count: 44
Publisher: NubeOcho
Review Posted Online: July 23, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.
Not even the arrival of autumn can cool down this impetuous squirrel.
Although Squirrel is skeptical about Bird’s vegetable patch (“Nothing is HAPPENING!”), Bird does produce five (count them) lovely pumpkins. Squirrel picks out a favorite: “The enormous orange one.” Bird hints that Squirrel might want to help out; Squirrel sets out to fetch some work gloves and returns to find only four pumpkins. The frequently distracted Squirrel notices more gourds disappearing and leaps to the conclusion that a thief is near. And where’s Bird?! Has Squirrel’s pal also been taken? Diligently detecting, Squirrel finds clues—peck marks, footprints, and more—and produces a sketch of the suspect. As readers will guess, each clue turns out to point to one of Squirrel and Bird’s friends. Turns out Bird was delivering pumpkins to their pals while saving the big one to give to “my very best friend,” Squirrel. But why does Squirrel haul it up a tree? “So the Pumpkin Thief can’t find it, of course!” A page of pumpkin facts provides the learning component common to all titles in this series. Once more, readers will enjoy the pleasure of prediction and repetition, Squirrel’s silly persistence, Bird’s generosity, and the vibrant color illustrations, balancing orange with green.
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781464268076
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2026
Empowerment to children to be the change they wish to see in the world.
Be a “somebody” who makes a difference!
A Black child witnesses various transgressions over the course of a day. Noticing trash on the walk to the bus stop, the young narrator thinks, “Somebody should do something about that.” Two students push their way ahead of everyone else in order to get good seats on the school bus, prompting the child to muse, “Somebody should speak up about that.” Throughout the day, the child notices examples of bullying and unfairness. These seemingly minor infractions start mounting. Finally, when the protagonist’s teacher tells the students that it’s snack time, the narrator notices that some students don’t have anything to eat. Instead of wishing for a “somebody,” the perceptive pupil realizes, “I am Somebody” and shares food with the others. The epiphany doesn’t stop there. When the narrator arrives home and notices there are toys everywhere but Mom is on a work call, the child responds to Mom’s request for help by cleaning up the mess. Accompanied by simple yet expressive illustrations, this is a loving and much-needed story that encourages kids to make a difference; pair it with Joshunda Sanders’ I Can Write the World (2019), illustrated by Charly Palmer. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Empowerment to children to be the change they wish to see in the world. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 27, 2023
ISBN: 9780762480517
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2023
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