A sweet and simple tale imported from China.
A young boy in China finds a way to save a family’s treasured tree.
As a child, Xiaoke’s father planted a peach pit outside his family’s home. The evenly paced narration reveals that Xiaoke now considers the now-grown tree “his peach tree brother,” and both father and son visit it even though his grandparents have already passed on. On a particular Lunar New Year, Xiaoke and his father visit the village and hang good-fortune poems on the doors. One month later, they return, observing the local barbershop busy with haircuts to welcome spring according to tradition. Resisting a trim, Xiaoke flees to his father’s now-abandoned old neighborhood, realizing that all the buildings are marked for imminent demolition. Worried, Xiaoke and a stray dog stand guard over the tree, pleading with the driver of the excavator to spare his brother. The driver questions the relation, arguing, “The peach tree’s hair is neat, but yours is so messy.” Finally Xiaoke has his hair trimmed, comically in the same shape as the peach tree’s branches. Satisfied, the driver avoids the tree, and Xiaoke and his father transplant both peach tree and stray dog to their city home. The narrative is punctuated by traditional sayings, the truth of which are borne out by the end. The charmingly simple illustrations bring texture and gentleness to this quiet story. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 74.5% of actual size.)
A sweet and simple tale imported from China. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Nov. 6, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4788-6980-1
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Reycraft Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2020
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A nicely inventive little morality “tail” for newly independent readers.
Two little rats decide to show the world how tough they are, with unpredictable results.
Louie and Ralphie Ratso want to be just like their single dad, Big Lou: tough! They know that “tough” means doing mean things to other animals, like stealing Chad Badgerton’s hat. Chad Badgerton is a big badger, so taking that hat from him proves that Louie and Ralphie are just as tough as they want to be. However, it turns out that Louie and Ralphie have just done a good deed instead of a bad one: Chad Badgerton had taken that hat from little Tiny Crawley, a mouse, so when Tiny reclaims it, they are celebrated for goodness rather than toughness. Sadly, every attempt Louie and Ralphie make at doing mean things somehow turns nice. What’s a little boy rat supposed to do to be tough? Plus, they worry about what their dad will say when he finds out how good they’ve been. But wait! Maybe their dad has some other ideas? LaReau keeps the action high and completely appropriate for readers embarking on chapter books. Each of the first six chapters features a new, failed attempt by Louie and Ralphie to be mean, and the final, seventh chapter resolves everything nicely. The humor springs from their foiled efforts and their reactions to their failures. Myers’ sprightly grayscale drawings capture action and characters and add humorous details, such as the Ratsos’ “unwelcome” mat.
A nicely inventive little morality “tail” for newly independent readers. (Fiction. 5-8)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-7636-7636-0
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2016
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