This clever tale with some insight into historical and cultural details of Chinese-American immigrants is sadly underserved...
When Yao Bai’s father invites him to join an expedition to gather seabird eggs from an island off the San Francisco coast, Yao is excited for the adventure but concerned that pirates might steal their valuable haul.
Yao’s family has moved from Guangdong, China, to a fishing village north of San Francisco, and selling a harvest of the large murre eggs to hungry gold miners will help them pay their fishing taxes and send money back to family in China. Their hoard is in jeopardy, though, when, sure enough, an unknown ship sails into view. Luckily, Yao comes up with a clever plan to trick the pirates and save their eggs. Myers tells an enjoyable folklike tale that weaves in some aspects of the life and culture of Chinese immigrants during the California Gold Rush, including racism emanating from the white pirates. Pang’s illustrations, however, resemble cartoon animations, so what in real life would be a terrifying situation is reduced to a buffoonish portrayal of bad guys versus good guys. A questionable illustration at the conclusion of the story depicts Yao’s family celebrating around a small campfire with one man shirtless in the San Francisco evening weather, conjuring images of the stereotypical "heathen Chinaman" of the 19th century.
This clever tale with some insight into historical and cultural details of Chinese-American immigrants is sadly underserved by its lackluster illustrations. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 9, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5132-6144-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: WestWinds Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 14, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
Highly imaginative, hilarious fun.
Best friends living in Kittybunkport, a village inhabited entirely by felines, must summon their courage.
Chowder and Crackles are lobster catchers who depend on the supposedly haunted nearby lighthouse to guide their boats safely home. When the lighthouse goes dark, the two are chosen from among all the other “scaredy-cats” to investigate. They reluctantly set out. The lighthouse appears just as frightening as they expect, and their worst fears come true when they spot a ghost—a lobster ghost! But wait, it’s just another lobster hunter, a dog from Bark Harbor who needs help installing a large light bulb. The tale is just dark enough to give young readers a delighted shiver, but they’ll quickly catch on to the humor of the quirky feline duo and their fantastical adventure. The two cats speak in an obviously well-practiced pattern—the clearly terrified Chowder won’t admit to being afraid (“I wouldn’t say I’m super-scared”), while Crackles is far more candid (“I would. That’s exactly what I would say”). Each strange event is immediately revealed to be benign, and the outcome is assuredly happy. OHora’s signature, highly stylized depictions of the cats with their large heads and huge glowing eyes, set against dark, often eerie backgrounds, work perfectly with this goofy tale. The town names are puns of real Maine towns, and OHora zeroes in on details sure to delight New Englanders, such as the thick sweaters the felines wear.
Highly imaginative, hilarious fun. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9780593622063
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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