Sammy Spider, that curious arachnid who refuses to just spin webs, follows his boy companion Josh to a Simchat Torah service when he gets himself stuck on a syrupy candy apple atop a small Jewish flag. As in previous outings, the inquisitive spiderling learns about this important Jewish fall holiday that joyously marks the year-long completion of the reading of the Torah through parade, singing and dancing. Just as Josh likes to read his favorite book over and over again, the Jewish people like to read the Torah, their favorite story, again and again. Signature cut-paper collage art employs some lovely colors and textures, but Kahn's choice of blank blue and brown paper eyes is disconcerting, and the all-too-familiar question-and-answer pattern of this author/illustrator duo make this entry in their series feel stale. Still, there are few enough choices available on this particular celebration to allow purchasers to be too choosy. A candy-apple recipe completes the formulaic, if well-meaning, tale. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7613-3965-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kar-Ben
Review Posted Online: June 30, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2010
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A clueless duckling tries to make a new friend.
He is confused by this peculiar-looking duck, who has a long tail, doesn’t waddle and likes to be alone. No matter how explicitly the creature denies he is a duck and announces that he is a cat, the duckling refuses to acknowledge the facts. When this creature expresses complete lack of interest in playing puddle stomp, the little ducking goes off and plays on his own. But the cat is not without remorse for rejecting an offered friendship. Of course it all ends happily, with the two new friends enjoying each other’s company. Bramsen employs brief sentences and the simplest of rhymes to tell this slight tale. The two heroes are meticulously drawn with endearing, expressive faces and body language, and their feathers and fur appear textured and touchable. Even the detailed tree bark and grass seem three-dimensional. There are single- and double-page spreads, panels surrounded by white space and circular and oval frames, all in a variety of eye-pleasing juxtapositions. While the initial appeal is solidly visual, young readers will get the gentle message that friendship is not something to take for granted but is to be embraced with open arms—or paws and webbed feet.
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-375-86990-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 14, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2012
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES
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A bilingual love poem of admiration and respect for the millions of monarch butterflies that journey south to Mexico every year.
From a chrysalis on the title page, Señorita Mariposa invites readers to follow the monarch butterfly as it embarks on a journey spanning thousands of miles, “Over mountains capped with snow… / To the deserts down below.” In the same manner, the monarch butterfly exiting the chrysalis at the end of the book then invites readers to flip back to the beginning and restart the journey. Almada Rivero’s warm and friendly illustrations showcase the various people and animals the monarch encounters in its 3,000-mile journey, including a couple of brown-skinned children who welcome Señorita Mariposa to Mexico as the text reads, “Can’t believe how far you’ve come.” Gundersheimer’s recounting of the lepidoptera’s journey is told in a bilingual poem, English set in a serif type and Spanish set in sans-serif. Like the butterfly traveling south and north, the languages switch prominence, displaying in the larger font the principal—and rhyming—language in each spread. Although at times distracting, this technique is a valiant attempt to give equal importance to each language. Backmatter includes facts on the round trip the butterflies undertake, the “super generation” that makes the trek south, and a call to action to protect the monarchs as they slowly lose their habitats.
Uplifting and inspiring of further research. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5247-4070-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: May 26, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2019
Categories: CHILDREN'S ANIMALS
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