A mediocre, bland offering for the holiday shelf.
A child’s favorite fruit creates a challenge for his class when it comes time for the annual ritual of decorating the classroom’s Sukkah, the traditional outdoor hut for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
Michael arrives at school with a choice fruit, following his teacher’s request to bring in a favorite one. As the children prepare to hang their bananas, pears, grapes and oranges, Michael realizes that his large, round, heavy watermelon will be difficult to suspend, as is the custom, from the open-air latticed roof of the Sukkah. Ideas abound: a basket of sorts could be made from lots of string, or rubber bands, or tape….Disappointed but not discouraged, Michael tries a hammock-style approach made from a large piece of fabric and four hooks, and to everyone’s surprise, it works. Perhaps a pumpkin will be next? Stock cartoon faces dominate the colorful gouache paintings of a Judaic school. The story, too, feels dutiful rather than inspired, an off-the-shelf plot to fill a niche rather than a meaningful celebration of this joyous holiday.
A mediocre, bland offering for the holiday shelf. (note) (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-7613-8118-1
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Kar-Ben
Review Posted Online: July 7, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A pleasant and persuasive primer that also asks readers to get up and dance.
A pipsqueak dancer shows off some serious moves.
“I dance,” says the brown-skinned child, clad in deep red and white with a straw-colored hat in hand. Next, a delightful hen busts a step alongside the tiny dancer, hat now on head. From page to page, a series of Philippine folk dances form the basis for this easy-to-read volume, beckoning new readers to hop into the rhythm. A courteous dance with a friend exemplifies the affectionate undertones of the cariñosa, while a flap of the wings in the company of a duck showcases the joy of the itik-itik. A graceful stance beside a harvest of colorful fish elucidates the rich mimicry behind the tahing baila. Set against natural landscapes, Almeda’s bright, cheery artwork merges flashes of movement with hints of the fantastical, making each dance leap off the page. Other brown-skinned children and adults accompany the miniature dancer, each character with a slight smile and all-black eyes, a community brimming with celebration. Rañola’s firmly crafted text leverages sound patterns and other phonics-based tricks to excellent effect, often to droll results. “Hear me dance! Clack! Clack!” This frolic concludes with a rather sweet invitation to keep the swirling and twirling going.
A pleasant and persuasive primer that also asks readers to get up and dance. (Early reader. 4-6)Pub Date: Oct. 28, 2025
ISBN: 9780823458387
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
A perfectly sweet Yuletide treat.
A feline dreads the holiday season.
Cat is a simple if crotchety creature—a lover of peace and a seeker of quiet. And nothing proves more disruptive to this cantankerous kitty than Christmas. He hates every bit of the needless frivolity: the extravagant decor, the treacly treats, and the loathsome callers, especially the dippy dachshund who arrives costumed for the occasion, eager to occupy Cat’s rightful place in his pale-skinned young human’s lap. One evening, in an act of Scroogely rebellion, Cat haughtily recuses himself from the holiday cheer and steals into the cold wet Christmas night, seeking a cathartic yowl and a moment of much-needed solitude. But his sour disposition sweetens when, perched atop a tree branch, he bears witness to an awe-inspiring cosmic display that inspires renewed appreciation for the loveliness of life on Earth, Yuletide trappings and all. Murray’s text amusingly elucidates the longstanding feud between feline and fir, though the narrative ascribes occasionally contradictory motivations to Cat’s behavior; some may wonder whether he acts out of spite, frustration that others don’t understand the true meaning of Christmas, or merely the desire to restore the cozy snugness of his pre-holiday home. But Murray’s vibrant illustrations charm, and pet lovers will especially enjoy a Christmas evening spent with Cat. Eagle-eyed adult readers will enjoy the illustrative homage to Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snowy Day.
A perfectly sweet Yuletide treat. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9781547617593
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2025
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