by T.T. Khing & illustrated by T.T. Khing ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2007
Multiple plots converge as small animal couples, traveling through wide, hilly landscapes, do the same in this wordless import. The titular cake isn’t too hard to track as it’s nearly always in sight—snatched by a pair of rats, who are pursued by its original owners, a canine couple, past mischievous monkeys, a mother rabbit with a hysterical child, two soccer-playing frogs, budding romance, sudden tumbles and several other mini-dramas. Ultimately, the thieves are subdued and the cake, rescued from a stream (and none the worse for being dunked), is parceled out to all comers as the main course of an impromptu picnic. The finely drawn creatures, all in human dress, are small but not so tiny as the ones in such similar multi-stranded titles as Elisha Cooper’s Beach (2006) or Charlotte Dematons’s Yellow Balloon (2004). An uncrowded charmer for younger (or for that matter, older) eyes. (Picture book. 5-9)
Pub Date: April 1, 2007
ISBN: 0-8109-1798-X
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2007
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by T.T. Khing & illustrated by T.T. Khing
by Alex Vern & illustrated by Alex Vern ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2001
The lifecycle of the frog is succinctly summarized in this easy reader for children reading at the late first-grade level. In just one or two sentences per page, Vern details the amazing metamorphosis of the frog from egg to tadpole to adult, even injecting a little humor despite the tight word count. (“Watch out fly! Mmmm!) Large, full-color photographs on white backgrounds clearly illustrate each phase of development. Without any mention of laying eggs or fertilization, the title might be a bit misleading, but the development from black dot egg to full-grown frog is fascinating. A simple chart of the three main lifecycle steps is also included. Lifecycles are part of the standard curriculum in the early elementary grades, and this will be a welcome addition to school and public libraries, both for its informational value and as an easy reader. (Nonfiction/easy reader. 5-7)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-15-216304-2
Page Count: 20
Publisher: Green Light/Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2001
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by Kwame Alexander & illustrated by Tim Bowers ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2011
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look...
Winning actually isn’t everything, as jazz-happy Rooster learns when he goes up against the legendary likes of Mules Davis and Ella Finchgerald at the barnyard talent show.
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look good—particularly after his “ ‘Hen from Ipanema’ [makes] / the barnyard chickies swoon.”—but in the end the competition is just too stiff. No matter: A compliment from cool Mules and the conviction that he still has the world’s best band soon puts the strut back in his stride. Alexander’s versifying isn’t always in tune (“So, he went to see his cousin, / a pianist of great fame…”), and despite his moniker Rooster plays an electric bass in Bower’s canted country scenes. Children are unlikely to get most of the jokes liberally sprinkled through the text, of course, so the adults sharing it with them should be ready to consult the backmatter, which consists of closing notes on jazz’s instruments, history and best-known musicians.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-58536-688-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
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by Kwame Alexander & Deanna Nikaido ; illustrated by Melissa Sweet
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by Kwame Alexander ; illustrated by Dare Coulter
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