Turnips are out, carrots are in—at least in this adaptation of the classic Russian folktale and in Jan Peck's The Giant Carrot (1997). Vagin begins with Daisy and Floyd, a pair of gardening bunnies who one day discover an enormous carrot serendipitously springing up among the hollyhocks and sunflowers. The duo attempts to pull the carrot out, ``but the carrot stayed put. It wouldn't come out.'' All their farmyard friends happen by, joining in the exercise of removing the enormous carrot. While the text is unembellished, the pictures provide visual fanfare—animals tumble topsy-turvy, tangled in the carrot's green top after tugging all day long. Their success results in a carrot banquet, complete with ice cream, salad, soup, tart, cookies, and pie. The familiarity of plot and repetition of phrase will create eager anticipation in readers, while the large format, bright primary palette, and anthropomorphized animals will keep listeners involved from any spot in the room. (Picture book/folklore. 3-6)
Pub Date: April 1, 1998
ISBN: 0-590-45491-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1998
In the very simple text of this Jamaican counting book, the coconut seller disposes of his wares as the story progresses, so the numbers decline from ten to one. Along the way he meets the workers, children, musicians, and other folk who are the foundation of Caribbean society, binding them all together by the simple act of selling his fruit. In this, the ``Coconut Mon'' is almost a mythic figure, brightening the humdrum of everyday life with his sweet treasures. The joy of tropical living bursts out of the scenes; ``vibrant'' doesn't begin to describe the illustrations- -they are downright rowdy. Every shape and curve ripples, and the pages explode with offbeat color combinations. Such bold choices may not appeal to everyone, but in this ode of affection, are refreshingly apt. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: April 1, 1995
ISBN: 0-688-12862-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Morrow/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1995
BOOK REVIEW
If any part of the body deserves to have a children's book written about it, it is toes. Repeating the same syntactic formula- -``Tiny toes peek out from under the bedcovers,'' ``Crumbly toes waltz around the breakfast table,'' and so on—Jakob (My Bike, not reviewed) describes the activities of toes at different times of day and of the year, in endearing, occasionally too-cute language (toes are ``kicky,'' ``splashy,'' ``skippy,'' ``jumpy,'' etc.), with a few longer words thrown in. Levert's bubbly watercolors make the whole thing float in some of the sunniest pictures of the season. Full of greens and blues, these show children who look like fat little toes themselves; they play—take a bath, ride a bicycle, dance around—in stylized, old worldly settings that include top hats and windmills. The pictures are full of objects—little houses with little windows—that have the curved dimensionality of inflatable toys. If it could, this book would turn into a pillow. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: April 17, 1995
ISBN: 1-7868-0013-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 1995
BOOK REVIEW
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