Great premise but, overall, a disappointing experience.
This story about the spawn of Bigfoot and Nessie (aka the Loch Ness Monster) suffers from a dry storyline and a significant lack of interaction and ingenuity.
The basic concept is clever: Two legendary, elusive creatures have made a family together. They have a son named Lochfoot, who is apparently still trying to come to terms with his obligation to make himself scarce in the world. He befriends Zach and Madi, kids who’ve wandered away from their family’s campsite, and that premise alone is rife with creative storytelling possibilities. Instead, this treatment deteriorates into a dull narrative that ends up at odds with the mysterious vibe the developer seemed to have been shooting for. For example, the app is accompanied by eerie electronic music throughout, but the female narrator sounds like she could be telling a story about a stuffed teddy bear, which kind of kills the spooky groove. The dialogue also detracts from the mystical mood, as the characters sound more like stereotypical American teenagers than daring kids or an enigmatic creature. There’s no interaction to speak of beyond turning pages; the animation is all automatic. When their worried parents ask where they’ve been after the kids return to the campsite, they lie about it in order to protect Lochfoot and his family. Understandable on one level; troubling on another.
Great premise but, overall, a disappointing experience. (iPad storybook app. 4-7)Pub Date: Jan. 4, 2014
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: William Matthews
Review Posted Online: Feb. 11, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2014
Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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BOOK REVIEW
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