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THE CLOSET GHOSTS

Name: THE CLOSET GHOSTS
Author: Uma Krishnaswami
ISBN: 0-89239-208-8

by Uma Krishnaswami & illustrated by Shiraaz Bhabha ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2006

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Faced with the universal fear of finding a welcoming place, Anu must rid her new home of the ghosts that are in her closet, as well as find friendship with her new classmates. Comforted by the promise of help from Hanuman (an important figure in Hindu mythology), she ultimately realizes that she will have to find the solution herself. She settles on a plan that changes a scary place into one that is friendly and welcoming, and the ghosts can’t stand it anymore. Bhabha’s color-drenched paintings perfectly complement Krishnaswami’s tale that incorporates a contemporary setting with the tradition of the Hindu Monkey God. The ghosts (“with backward pointing feet”) are outlined in white, but wear brightly colored clothing over nearly transparent bodies, and Bhabha’s visualization of the Monkey God is perfect. A unique tale that is worthy of a wide audience. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: April 1, 2006

ISBN: 0-89239-208-8

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Children's Book Press

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2006

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S

- BOOK REVIEW
LOOK! LOOK!
by Uma Krishnaswami ; illustrated by Uma Krishnaswamy

- BOOK REVIEW
TWO AT THE TOP
by Uma Krishnaswami ; illustrated by Christopher Corr

- BOOK REVIEW
THREADS OF PEACE
by Uma Krishnaswami

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WHERE ARE YOUR SHOES, MR. BROWN?

by Justin Rhodes ; illustrated by Heather Dickinson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 14, 2023

Pedestrian.

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Mr. Brown can’t help with farm chores because his shoes are missing—a common occurrence in his household and likely in many readers’ as well.

Children will be delighted that the titular Mr. Brown is in fact a child. After Mr. Brown looks in his closet and sorts through his other family members’ shoes with no luck, his father and his siblings help him search the farm. Eventually—after colorful pages that enable readers to spot footwear hiding—the family gives up on their hunt, and Mr. Brown asks to be carried around for the chores. He rides on his father’s shoulders as Papa gets his work done, as seen on a double-page spread of vignettes. The resolution is more of a lesson for the adult readers than for children, a saccharine moment where father and son express their joy that the missing shoes gave them the opportunity for togetherness—with advice for other parents to appreciate those fleeting moments themselves. Though the art is bright and cheerful, taking advantage of the setting, it occasionally is misaligned with the text (for example, the text states that Mr. Brown is wearing his favorite green shirt while the illustration is of a shirt with wide stripes of white and teal blue, which could confuse readers at the point where they’re trying to figure out which family member is Mr. Brown). The family is light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Pedestrian. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: March 14, 2023

ISBN: 978-1-5460-0389-2

Page Count: 32

Publisher: WorthyKids/Ideals

Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2022

Categories:

CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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THE BEST CHEF IN SECOND GRADE

by Katharine Kenah & illustrated by Abby Carter ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 1, 2007

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An impending school visit by a celebrity chef sends budding cook Ollie into a tailspin. He and his classmates are supposed to bring a favorite family food for show and tell, but his family doesn’t have a clear choice—besides, his little sister Rosy doesn’t like much of anything. What to do? As in their previous two visits to Room 75, Kenah builds suspense while keeping the tone light, and Carter adds both bright notes of color and familiar home and school settings in her cartoon illustrations. Eventually, Ollie winkles favorite ingredients out of his clan, which he combines into a mac-and-cheese casserole with a face on top that draws delighted praise from the class’s renowned guest. As Ollie seems to do his kitchen work without parental assistance, a cautionary tip or two (and maybe a recipe) might not have gone amiss here, but the episode’s mouthwatering climax and resolution will guarantee smiles of contentment all around. (Easy reader. 6-7)