Enchanting adventures for the littlest explorers.
This Japanese import sees young Sato return for more escapades.
One morning, Sato, a light-skinned child dressed in a white rabbit suit, notices a sliver of light between the curtains in his dark room. He pinches and pulls out the light, discovering whimsical uses for it during his fanciful day. After he stirs his morning coffee with the beam of light, he’s transported to a sun-splashed field. There, he “[gathers] spots of sunshine,” “[scoops] up sparkles from the riverbed,” and makes a toasty campfire. After enjoying a sandwich of falling stars and a drink made with sparkles he gathered earlier, he settles in for a twinkly night, aglow with joy from his day. Later, Sato awakens and finds himself in a lighthouse, surrounded by a cobalt sea. Again, sunlight is his playmate, and when the light forms two perfect cubes, he lifts them up, places them atop the lighthouse, and enjoys the fruit and shells that the birds and fish, attracted by the sight, bring him. The shells are magical; one transforms into a ship that puffs whimsical clouds, while another creates a magnificent sunset, bathed in orange, purple, and yellow. As night returns, Sato gazes up at the moon and stars etched into the inky black sky. Ainoya once more displays a superb gift for spare prose and playfully unusual illustrations, beginning with purple and white endpapers whose forms foreshadow the events to come, unfolding into a story of magical realism.
Enchanting adventures for the littlest explorers. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: July 15, 2025
ISBN: 9781592704392
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn.
A young owl achieves his grand ambition.
Owl, an adorably earnest and gallant little owlet, dreams of being a knight. He imagines himself defeating dragons and winning favor far and wide through his brave exploits. When a record number of knights go missing, Owl applies to Knight School and is surprisingly accepted. He is much smaller than the other knights-in-training, struggles to wield weapons, and has “a habit of nodding off during the day.” Nevertheless, he graduates and is assigned to the Knight Night Watch. While patrolling the castle walls one night, a hungry dragon shows up and Owl must use his wits to avoid meeting a terrible end. The result is both humorous and heartwarming, offering an affirmation of courage and clear thinking no matter one’s size…and demonstrating the power of a midnight snack. The story never directly addresses the question of the missing knights, but it is hinted that they became the dragon’s fodder, leaving readers to question Owl’s decision to befriend the beast. Humor is supplied by the characters’ facial expressions and accented by the fact that Owl is the only animal in his order of big, burly human knights. Denise’s accomplished digital illustrations—many of which are full bleeds—often use a warm sepia palette that evokes a feeling of antiquity, and some spreads feature a pleasing play of chiaroscuro that creates suspense and drama.
A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-31062-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2022
A cheery story that “wool” likely evoke some smiles.
A “baa”-nd of pirates gets the wool pulled over their eyes.
After a treasure-hunting foray, Captain Hoof and his crew of fleecy sheep are homeward bound with a glittery bounty—the lost Golden Shears, which once belonged to the infamous Woolly Jones. Suddenly, huge waves engulf and smash their ship. They’re sheepwrecked and stranded on Foggy Island, home to none other than Woolly Jones. After nearly a month of failed attempts to get off the island, Captain Hoof decides to return the shears to their rightful owner. Trekking across the island through fog as thick and impenetrable as wool, captain and crew eventually bump into their nemesis, who snatches the shears from the captain’s hooves. Expecting dire consequences, everyone starts to flee, but things turn out wool, er, well. In a 90-degree book turn, Woolly is depicted using the shears to give himself a much-needed “woolcut.” He’s grateful for the shears—and for the company after a long, lonely spell. Captain Hoof and crew are delighted at this outcome. This is a cute tale, though the plot is a bit thin; the numerous, amusing sheep puns will appeal more to grown-ups than kids. But the digital illustrations are comical and dynamic, and the all-ovine protagonists are lively and expressive. The book contains lots of typographical creativity, including some onomatopoeic words, incorporated into the artwork, and maps in the endpapers include islands bearing funny, aptly punny names.
A cheery story that “wool” likely evoke some smiles. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: July 9, 2024
ISBN: 9780593569665
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2024
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