Attractive and initially inventive but ultimately lacking in substance
When a toothy black wolf falls out of a book in a little girl’s overstuffed library, he learns that real life can be much scarier than fiction.
The mouse-sized wolf (remember, he fell out of a book) tries to escape from a cat by plunging back in, but a sheep kicks him out “because he arrived too early in the story.” He tries again. But the other wolves scold him because he is arriving “when the story is finished.” He climbs the “tall, straight” shelves, nearly falling in his terror. He tries to climb into a fairy tale but is rejected because he is unsuitably dressed for a ball. Another book about dinosaurs is equally unwelcoming, being full of dangerous animals. Choosing another book “at random,” he finds himself in a large forest, where he finds a “little girl dressed in red,” sitting on a log and weeping. The wolf agrees to accompany her to her grandmother’s house. Those familiar with the story of Little Red Riding Hood will make the connection and may even enjoy the enigmatic, anticlimactic joke at the end; young readers who don’t know that story will be mystified. Mabire’s pen-and-watercolor illustrations are workmanlike, if repetitive—the cover, endpapers, and several spreads offer similar views of Sophie’s library bookshelves, which become monotonous after a while.
Attractive and initially inventive but ultimately lacking in substance . (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 18, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4236-4797-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Gibbs Smith
Review Posted Online: April 30, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2017
Although the love comes shining through, the text often confuses in straining for patterned simplicity.
A collection of parental wishes for a child.
It starts out simply enough: two children run pell-mell across an open field, one holding a high-flying kite with the line “I wish you more ups than downs.” But on subsequent pages, some of the analogous concepts are confusing or ambiguous. The line “I wish you more tippy-toes than deep” accompanies a picture of a boy happily swimming in a pool. His feet are visible, but it's not clear whether he's floating in the deep end or standing in the shallow. Then there's a picture of a boy on a beach, his pockets bulging with driftwood and colorful shells, looking frustrated that his pockets won't hold the rest of his beachcombing treasures, which lie tantalizingly before him on the sand. The line reads: “I wish you more treasures than pockets.” Most children will feel the better wish would be that he had just the right amount of pockets for his treasures. Some of the wordplay, such as “more can than knot” and “more pause than fast-forward,” will tickle older readers with their accompanying, comical illustrations. The beautifully simple pictures are a sweet, kid- and parent-appealing blend of comic-strip style and fine art; the cast of children depicted is commendably multiethnic.
Although the love comes shining through, the text often confuses in straining for patterned simplicity. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: April 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4521-2699-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2015
An invitation to wonder, imagine and look at everything (humans included) in a new way.
A young boy sees things a little differently than others.
Noah can see patterns in the dust when it sparkles in the sunlight. And if he puts his nose to the ground, he can smell the “green tang of the ants in the grass.” His most favorite thing of all, however, is to read. Noah has endless curiosity about how and why things work. Books open the door to those answers. But there is one question the books do not explain. When the wind comes whistling by, where does it go? Noah decides to find out. In a chase that has a slight element of danger—wind, after all, is unpredictable—Noah runs down streets, across bridges, near a highway, until the wind lifts him off his feet. Cowman’s gusty wisps show each stream of air turning a different jewel tone, swirling all around. The ribbons gently bring Noah home, setting him down under the same thinking tree where he began. Did it really happen? Worthington’s sensitive exploration leaves readers with their own set of questions and perhaps gratitude for all types of perspective. An author’s note mentions children on the autism spectrum but widens to include all who feel a little different.
An invitation to wonder, imagine and look at everything (humans included) in a new way. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 14, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-60554-356-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Redleaf Lane
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2015
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
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
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
bookshelf
