by Terri Fields & illustrated by Sherry Rogers ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2007
Those looking for a Southwestern or Mexican variant of The Little Red Hen will find it here. Burro, dressed in overalls and a chile-bedecked shirt, calls his friends to help him pick the corn to make tortillas: “Whinee aw ah aw. Mis amigos—vengan aquí.” Bobcat, coyote and jackrabbit in turn respond, “Yo no,” and add punning explanations. “I’ve really got to hop along,” says the jackrabbit. The silly illustrations are bland, but the corny text moves briskly. The main interest is in the cultural variation on the traditional story, and the demonstration of the process of making tortillas. An appendix contains information on corn, a recipe for tortillas and a Spanish-English vocabulary page with space to write (which could be a problem for libraries, although instructions for downloading the worksheets are also included). “Yo,” as the jackrabbit says, “Hare’s looking at you, let’s eat!” (Picture book. 4-7)
Pub Date: June 1, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-9768823-9-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sylvan Dell
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2007
Share your opinion of this book
More by Terri Fields
BOOK REVIEW
by Terri Fields
BOOK REVIEW
by Terri Fields ; illustrated by Deborah Melmon
BOOK REVIEW
by Terri Fields & illustrated by Laura Jacques
by Joanna Gaines ; illustrated by Julianna Swaney ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 28, 2025
Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children.
Interior decorator and TV personality Gaines invites readers to open their eyes and exercise their imaginations.
There’s a world to be explored out there—and only children can really take part. What does “looking for wonder” entail? Slowing down and looking up, around, and everywhere. At the outset, a group of eager, racially diverse young friends—including one who uses a wheelchair—are fully prepared for a grand adventure. They offer tips about how and where to look: Why, there’s a “grand parade” of marching ants! And, these kids add, perspective is key. A rainy day might signal gloom to some, but to those filled with wonder, showers bring “magic puddles for play”; a forest is “an enchanted world,” the ocean conceals “a spectacular city,” and the night sky boasts “extraordinary sights.” The takeaway: “Wonder is never in short supply.” It’s a robust, empowering message, as is the exhortation to “keep your mind open, and let curiosity guide the way.” Youngsters are also advised to share their discoveries. The upbeat narrative is delivered in clunky verse, but the colorful cartoonish illustrations brimming with activity and good cheer (including some adorable anthropomorphized animals in the backgrounds) make up for the textual lapses and should motivate readers to embark on their own “wonder explorations.”
Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2025
ISBN: 9781400247417
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tommy Nelson
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
Share your opinion of this book
More by Joanna Gaines
BOOK REVIEW
by Joanna Gaines ; illustrated by Julianna Swaney
by Greg Pizzoli ; illustrated by Greg Pizzoli ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 26, 2019
There’s nothing especially new here, but the good-natured celebration of books, reading, and libraries will charm fellow...
A porcine hoarder of books learns to read—and to share.
The Book Hog’s obsession is clear from the start. Short declarative sentences describe his enthusiasm (“The Book Hog loved books”), catalog the things he likes about the printed page, and eventually reveal his embarrassing secret (“He didn’t know how to read”). While the text is straightforward, plenty of amusing visual details will entertain young listeners. A picture of the Book Hog thumbing through a book while seated on the toilet should induce some giggles. The allusive name of a local bookshop (“Wilbur’s”) as well as the covers of a variety of familiar and much-loved books (including some of the author’s own) offer plenty to pore over. And the fact that the titles become legible only after our hero learns to read is a particularly nice touch. A combination of vignettes, single-page illustrations and double-page spreads that feature Pizzoli’s characteristic style—heavy black outlines, a limited palette of mostly salmon and mint green, and simple shapes—move the plot along briskly. Librarians will appreciate the positive portrayal of Miss Olive, an elephant who welcomes the Book Hog warmly to storytime, though it’s unlikely most will be able to match her superlative level of service.
There’s nothing especially new here, but the good-natured celebration of books, reading, and libraries will charm fellow bibliophiles, and the author’s fans will enjoy making another anthropomorphic animal friend. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 26, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-368-03689-4
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Nov. 11, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2018
Share your opinion of this book
More by Greg Pizzoli
BOOK REVIEW
by Greg Pizzoli ; illustrated by Greg Pizzoli
BOOK REVIEW
by Greg Pizzoli ; illustrated by Greg Pizzoli
BOOK REVIEW
by Greg Pizzoli ; illustrated by Greg Pizzoli
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.