A light and breezy view of an inclusive, perfect world in which everyone can be friends.
Neal’s (Kinship, 2013, etc.) latest picture book presents an idealized view of universal friendship.
Neal’s first children’s book references the I Have a Dream Elementary School and conveys an understanding of Martin Luther King Jr.’s hope, expressed in his speech of that name, that the time would come in America when people of all backgrounds would be joined “in a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.” Neal expresses this vision through the narration of Christopher, a dog and “friend to all of mankind,” who invites readers to consider various types of friendship. Beginning with real and imaginary friends, he then covers diversity of hair and sleeping arrangements before moving on to body type, likes and dislikes, disabilities and animal friends. No matter the differences, Christopher says, all his friends “are friendly, in their own special way!” Also touched upon are friends who speak different languages or live in different types of housing; friends who use wheelchairs or are deaf, sick or blind; and those who live in a home with two parents of the same gender. The diversity of these friends’ ethnic backgrounds is further revealed in colorful digital illustrations. Christopher concludes with claims that friends are never bullies, and they should always be friendly and estimable. The final lines demonstrate the book’s overly optimistic view of reality: “It takes all types of friendships to / make the world go around. / Friends are really special people, / that are very easily found!” The fact that the narrator is a dog doesn’t seem to matter much; there’s no story, and very few of the images actually contain a dog. Similarly, despite the book’s summery tone, it offers no guidance for finding friends or tackling the challenges of friendship.
A light and breezy view of an inclusive, perfect world in which everyone can be friends.Pub Date: June 24, 2014
ISBN: 978-1500156183
Page Count: 30
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Sept. 8, 2014
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
Continuing to find inspiration in the work of Virginia Lee Burton, Munro Leaf and other illustrators of the past, Long (The Little Engine That Could, 2005) offers an aw-shucks friendship tale that features a small but hardworking tractor (“putt puff puttedy chuff”) with a Little Toot–style face and a big-eared young descendant of Ferdinand the bull who gets stuck in deep, gooey mud. After the big new yellow tractor, crowds of overalls-clad locals and a red fire engine all fail to pull her out, the little tractor (who had been left behind the barn to rust after the arrival of the new tractor) comes putt-puff-puttedy-chuff-ing down the hill to entice his terrified bovine buddy successfully back to dry ground. Short on internal logic but long on creamy scenes of calf and tractor either gamboling energetically with a gaggle of McCloskey-like geese through neutral-toned fields or resting peacefully in the shade of a gnarled tree (apple, not cork), the episode will certainly draw nostalgic adults. Considering the author’s track record and influences, it may find a welcome from younger audiences too. (Picture book. 5-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-399-25248-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2009
SEEN & HEARD
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available.
A ghost learns to appreciate his differences.
The little ghost protagonist of this title is unusual. He’s a quilt, not a lightweight sheet like his parents and friends. He dislikes being different despite his mom’s reassurance that his ancestors also had unconventional appearances. Halloween makes the little ghost happy, though. He decides to watch trick-or-treaters by draping over a porch chair—but lands on a porch rail instead. A mom accompanying her daughter picks him up, wraps him around her chilly daughter, and brings him home with them! The family likes his looks and comforting warmth, and the little ghost immediately feels better about himself. As soon as he’s able to, he flies out through the chimney and muses happily that this adventure happened only due to his being a quilt. This odd but gently told story conveys the importance of self-respect and acceptance of one’s uniqueness. The delivery of this positive message has something of a heavy-handed feel and is rushed besides. It also isn’t entirely logical: The protagonist could have been a different type of covering; a blanket, for instance, might have enjoyed an identical experience. The soft, pleasing illustrations’ palette of tans, grays, white, black, some touches of color, and, occasionally, white text against black backgrounds suggest isolation, such as the ghost feels about himself. Most humans, including the trick-or-treating mom and daughter, have beige skin. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-16.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 66.2% of actual size.)
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7352-6447-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
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