A shallow story about shallowness.
This story about a little purple monster aims to demonstrate that outward appearance isn’t a good indicator of inward nature and character.
One night, a large egg magically appears on a hill in the forest. When it cracks open, Bibo—a diminutive beast that’s so ugly he’s cute—pops out and launches his mission to find some friends. A snooty squirrel snubs him, as do a mouse, a bear, a rabbit and a fox. The voluptuous fox, which frolics in slow motion atop a cake, looks like she could moonlight as a burlesque dancer. She tells Bibo that he’s not friend-worthy since he’s too fat and needs to go to the gym. The superficial vibe is clear and altogether appropriate, but the dialogue and storyline that support the implicit lesson are mostly languid and thin. On the technical side, there’s animation and interaction on most pages, but they’re of garden variety—slight animatronic character movements, featureless activity pages, and things that bob, float and squeak when tapped. Bibo meets his female monster counterpart at the end of the story, and she befriends him “because nobody wants to be friends with me” (a pronouncement that conveys that selecting a friend may be as easy as settling for whom you’re stuck with).
A shallow story about shallowness. (iPad storybook app. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2014
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Vasiliy Poryagin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 18, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2014
Though it is light on specific information about how and why teeth are lost, most children will enjoy relating to Bear in...
Wilson and Chapman continue this popular series that began with Bear Snores On (2002).
Bear has invited his friends for lunch, when “something wiggled, and it wobbled…something moved when he chewed! It was… / Bear’s / loose / tooth!” In full-bleed spreads with a palette dominated by blues and greens, Chapman ably portrays Bear’s concern over this dental dilemma as well as the genuine empathy and determination of his many animal friends when they try to help remove the tooth. On several pages Bear looks right at readers as he reacts to his predicament, bringing them immediately into the story. After Hare, Mouse, Wren, Owl, Badger and others all fail at prying it loose, Bear “used his tongue and…gave a little nudge” until it falls out. A fairy comes as Bear sleeps and leaves “blueberries where Bear’s tooth had been!” Wilson keeps young readers engaged with rhyming text that keeps the gentle action flowing.
Though it is light on specific information about how and why teeth are lost, most children will enjoy relating to Bear in his latest oh-so-cozy adventure. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4169-5855-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: McElderry
Review Posted Online: July 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2011
Disney art paired with an affirming message makes for a pleasant diversion.
Popular Disney characters guide children toward independence and empowerment.
Childhood involves taking small steps into enchanted lands of self-discovery. These forays lead to challenges but wonders, too. Who better to help kids along this path than celebrated Disney and Pixar icons, idolized courtesy of cinema and TV screens? Children sharing this book with grown-ups will likely be more thrilled at simply spotting and identifying cartoon favorites on these pages than listening to, let alone contemplating, the lengthy, somewhat overblown text, which may go over their heads. After all, very young children won’t yet know what lies ahead—or have figured out what they’ve achieved or will accomplish—when they’re on the brink of exciting life journeys. Recognizing and naming favorites—characters from Frozen, Up, Coco, and Moana—will boost many children’s self-esteem, one of this book’s credos. Some classic characters might be less familiar to today’s younger set, but they’re still powerfully appealing. Many words, set in larger type throughout, are eye-catching. The inimitable Disney illustrative and design style remains captivating and transcends generations. Though many characters from earlier Disney works are White (Alice, Peter, Pinocchio), those from more recent films reflect racial and ethnic diversity, among them Moana, who is Polynesian, and Coco’s Miguel, who is Mexican. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Disney art paired with an affirming message makes for a pleasant diversion. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 4, 2023
ISBN: 9781368077750
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Disney Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
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