Not a reliable guide to pet care (or, for that matter, friendship)—but a typically buzzy series outing nonetheless.
It looks like curtainzzz for Fly Guy and Fly Girl when their pet humans’ new friend comes with a lizard.
New arrival Carlos’ small green pet, Annie, seems harmless enough—cute, even—but “LIZ-Z-ZARD!” and “EATZ FLYZZ!” explain terrified Fly Guy and Fly Girl to readers who might not be in the know. It seems that Carlos isn’t in the know either, as he explains to Buzz and Liz that their buzzy companions aren’t in danger because he feeds Annie on maggots. Uh oh. Even as horrified Buzz and Liz fill Carlos in on what maggots are, a brisk chase is underway elsewhere with slapstick worthy of Looney Tunes. The flies put up a stout defense against their pursuer, zipping out of her way and lifting her by the tail from a branch before letting her fall with a comical splat. They have a final face-off in a can full of rotting garbage. Happily, Annie turns out to be fonder of soggy fries than flies, and by the end prey and predator have become “friendzzies!” In the cartoon illustrations Fly Girl is pink and has a bow fastened to one antenna, but Annie shows no such gendered markers, and all three children have the same slightly toned light skin.
Not a reliable guide to pet care (or, for that matter, friendship)—but a typically buzzy series outing nonetheless. (Early reader. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 5, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-338-54925-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A winner of an early reader.
Channeling the can-do attitude of a certain little engine, Lewin’s alligator comes out on top with some help from his friend and despite the bullying of another gator.
Limited, repetitive text invites new readers to adopt the same spirit of determination about reading that the protagonist alligator does about swimming when he confidently tells his friend, “I can win” after they spy a sign reading “Big Race Sunday” posted on a tree. His self-assurance is challenged by a bigger, scowling alligator wearing a red cap, who snarls, “No, you can’t.” Bickering leads to the bully shoving the littler gator, and then a spread showing the friend (who wears a pink bow on her head to distinguish her from the others), who says, “Yes, you can.” She encourages her friend as he practices for the race even while the antagonist continues to say “CANNOT,” and our hero perseveres. When the day of the big race arrives, the good guy does finish first, rejoicing, “I did it!” dripping wet and wearing his first-place medal, while his proud friend looks on. Throughout, Lewin’s restrained watercolor-and-ink artwork matches the control of the text, providing ample, white resting space for the eyes while delivering engaging and expressive characters. Subtle shifts in the placement of speech balloons provide humor while helping children decode.
A winner of an early reader. (Early reader. 5-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2522-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Feb. 26, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An inspiring and disquieting testament to the value of education, which costs some a lot more.
Shaka is determined to find a safe way to get to school for all the kids in his Xhosa community.
Shaka and his little sister, Nandi, were lucky that their father could walk them to school every day, but unfortunately, a work opportunity in a mine far away means their dad will be unavailable for the foreseeable future. The danger of going alone is illustrated by shadowy figures hiding beneath a key bridge along their path, but co-author Friedland’s note and an afterword from Julian Lennon, founder of the White Feather Foundation, emphasize serious unspoken threats faced by children, “girls in particular,” throughout the world from India to Uganda. Importantly, Shaka and Nandi’s rural South African village is depicted as brightly communal and as loving as the supportive Mama who assures the brainstorming siblings that they “will find another way.” A toy school bus they find one day offers the inspiration Shaka needs to adopt a privilege some schoolchildren may take for granted into a savvy collective effort to support the uniquely vulnerable but undeniably eager students of the village. Colorful illustrations offer detailed visuals of the planning and execution of the walking school bus, culminating in a heartwarming full-page spread of the brown-skinned, uniform-wearing kids traveling safely and bravely as a cohesive unit toward their school. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An inspiring and disquieting testament to the value of education, which costs some a lot more. (note from Mandela) (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Aug. 29, 2023
ISBN: 9781771644693
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Greystone Kids
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
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