A clever bit of conflict resolution, nonviolent and broadly applicable.
On a rainy week of vacation, Harry finds a way to loosen his bossy big sister’s grip on playtime scenarios.
On Monday, the two go to Mars, “which looked a lot like the family room, except for the volcanoes.” Because Harry sinks in quicksand, Clare eats his snack. On following days she not only gets to be race car driver, pirate queen, and school principal, but she appropriates his snacks again. When the penny finally drops, he starts stockpiling small treats in his pocket—so that when skies clear and the children hit the jungle (“It looked a lot like the park, except for the vines and wild animals”), he’s in a position to win concessions from his snackless sib: “I’ll share. But I think the treasure is in a cave under a mountain.” Says Clare, “Okay. But there’s still a monster octopus in the cave.” Staunton’s tongue-in-cheek text displays both great respect for the imagination of children and affection for his characters. In simply drawn line-and-color illustrations, Song artfully blends ordinary household and playground details into adventuresome settings until at last steering the pair homeward past “prehistoric park-bench dinosaur skeletons” and deadly “squirrel sharks.” The children are black-haired and light-skinned; the “Kimono dragons” they ride hint at Asian ancestry.
A clever bit of conflict resolution, nonviolent and broadly applicable. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-77049-827-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
A tale of mutual adoration that hits a sweet note.
Little Honey Bunny Funnybunny loves baseball almost as much as she loves her big brother P.J.—though it’s a close-run thing.
Readers familiar with the pranks P.J. plays on his younger sibling in older episodes of the series (most illustrated by Roger Bollen) will be amused—and perhaps a little confused—to see him in the role of perfect big brother after meeting his swaddled little sister for the first time in mama’s lap. But here, along with being a constant companion and “always happy to see her,” he cements his heroic status in her eyes by hitting a home run for his baseball team and then patiently teaching her how to play T-ball. After carefully coaching her and leading her through warm-up exercises, he even sits in the stands, loudly cheering her on as she scores the winning run in her own very first game. “‘You are the best brother a bunny could ever have!’” she burbles. This tale’s a tad blander compared with others centered on P.J. and his sister, but it’s undeniably cheery, with text well structured for burgeoning readers. The all-smiles animal cast in Bowers’ cartoon art features a large and diversely hued family of bunnies sporting immense floppy ears as well as a multispecies crowd of furry onlookers equally varied of color, with one spectator in a wheelchair.
A tale of mutual adoration that hits a sweet note. (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: Jan. 6, 2026
ISBN: 9798217032464
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Cuándo quieras un perro feliz, look no further.
A young Latine boy finally gets to rescue the dog of his dreams, but training can be a challenge in two languages.
Like many children, José has been dreaming of having a pet of his own, specifically un perro, a dog. Like any good owner, José promptly begins training his new canine companion but soon realizes his rescue mutt, Feliz, knows only words in English. This is a problem because in José’s home everyone speaks both Spanish and English. José and Feliz must rise to the challenge; fortunately, treats and snuggles are great motivators. The narrative uses Spanish words and phrases throughout (“perros blancos,” “¡Yo quiero este!” “¡Sientate!”), usually with English context clues for understanding. This is complex vocabulary for an early reader, and the shifting in phonics from English to Spanish will be challenging for true beginners; the book is best suited for intermediate to advanced readers in dual-language classrooms or homes. Much like Feliz, however, it is sure to find a loving (and bilingual) home. Cheerful illustrations complement the text, helping readers make sense of the narrative. While José and his mother are darker-skinned, his father and sister are lighter-skinned. (This review has been updated for accuracy.)
Cuándo quieras un perro feliz, look no further. (glossary of Spanish-English words) (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-52116-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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