Delightfully celebrates the art of librarianship.
Stanley, hamster-of-all-trades, is back, this time in a book-loving occupation.
Stanley works in a typical brick-and-mortar library and also on the library’s bookmobile. He spends the morning loading up the van. (Bee’s droll humor is especially evident on the shelves: the “horror” section includes owls and cats—horrific to the rodent set. And of course there is an entire shelf dedicated to cheese.) Stanley drives around the town matching just-right books to readers. Benjamin, Sophie, and Betty are at the park. One borrows a “scary book.” Another borrows a “scary, hairy book.” And the last borrows a “scary, hairy, fairy book.” (Kids always have the trickiest requests—but librarians know just how to please them!) Hattie is working on her motorbike. She didn’t ask for a book, but Stanley found one that he knew she would love and put it aside for her—it’s The Big Book of Twisty Roads. After a busy day of connecting readers with books, the seemingly indefatigable Stanley heads back to the library for a special event. Agatha Mouse has a new book out and is doing a reading! Stanley goes home for his predictable dinner, bath, and bedtime routine—but is reading his book the entire time. Some might suck their teeth at the sight of Stanley in the tub with First Mouse in Space, but so sure and stable are Bee’s compositions that they should know not a drop will get on it.
Delightfully celebrates the art of librarianship. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-68263-313-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: June 1, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Sure to have little ones giggling.
Jacques is a hedgehog with a big secret: “I wear real, bona fide underwear.”
Our narrator received a mysterious package one day; an illustration shows a pair of underwear tied to a balloon with a note “from the Universe” floating down into Jacques’ burrow. Hedgehogs don’t wear underwear, however. Will Jacques be shunned? Jacques worries but comes to a decision: “I have to wear them. When I do I feel special.” Determined, Jacques, who’s been invited to a party, makes a dramatic entrance, with undies in hand. Jacques’ declaration (“I WEAR UNDERWEAR”) is met with remarks of dismay, before another hedgehog opens up about similar fears and shows off a pair of cowboy boots. More hedgehogs introduce themselves with their own confessions. The story ends with Jacques unveiling a painting of the underwear in a gallery filled with hedgehogs wearing all sorts of attire. Though the book is simple in plot, characters, and setting, it wins in its balance of bathroom humor, dramatic storytelling, and celebrations of individual expression. French words are peppered throughout, adding to the fun without detracting from the story for those unfamiliar with the language. The cartoonish illustrations brim with fun; Valdez relies heavily on geometric shapes (triangle noses for the hedgehogs; huge circles for their eyes). Details such as speech bubbles and recurring turtle and snake characters contribute to the outlandish humor.
Sure to have little ones giggling. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9781250814388
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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