Easy-to-read stories that strain to be amusing.
Odd housemates adjust to extremely cramped real estate.
Moving into a two-room house, Bat, Cat, and Rat agree that “sharing is nice” but immediately claim their own space. Cat takes the upstairs room, while Rat opts for the one downstairs, leaving only the under-stair closet (shades of Harry Potter) for Bat. When Bat happily exclaims that “UNDER the stairs is THE BEST!” the friends look skeptical—until they see Bat hanging upside down in the cavelike space. In the second story, practical jokester Rat scares Cat with a rubber spider. Bat pretends to eat it, scaring Rat. Alone, Bat repeats Rat’s dubious claim: “Joking is fun!” The third story finds Cat cozily settled in a chair with a book. When Cat accuses Rat and Bat of trying to sneak peeks, they admit shamefacedly that they can’t yet read. So they share the chair and “read their very first word: ‘HAT!’” It turns out that “reading together is the BEST EVER.” In the underwhelming final entry (referred to as “story #3-and-a-half”), for unclear reasons, all three cram into the bare closet to sleep; it doesn’t look at all cozy. The larger-than-life, upright, anthropomorphic animals are set mostly against plain backgrounds; they’re personable rather than cute. The simple language is ideal for burgeoning readers, though the jokes are rather one-note.
Easy-to-read stories that strain to be amusing. (Easy reader/picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781665930420
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Dec. 16, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2024
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
Yes, the Pigeon has to go to school, and so do readers, and this book will surely ease the way.
All the typical worries and excuses kids have about school are filtered through Willems’ hysterical, bus-loving Pigeon.
Told mostly in speech balloons, the bird’s monologue will have kids (and their caregivers) in stitches at Pigeon’s excuses. From already knowing everything (except whatever question readers choose to provide in response to “Go ahead—ask me a question. / Any question!”) to fearing learning too much (“My head might pop off”), Pigeon’s imagination has run wild. Readers familiar with Pigeon will recognize the muted, matte backgrounds that show off the bird’s shenanigans so well. As in previous outings, Willems varies the size of the pigeon on the page to help communicate emotion, the bird teeny small on the double-page spread that illustrates the confession that “I’m… / scared.” And Pigeon’s eight-box rant about all the perils of school (“The unknown stresses me out, dude”) is marvelously followed by the realization (complete with lightbulb thought bubble) that school is the place for students to practice, with experts, all those skills they don’t yet have. But it is the ending that is so Willems, so Pigeon, and so perfect. Pigeon’s last question is “Well, HOW am I supposed to get there, anyway!?!” Readers will readily guess both the answer and Pigeon’s reaction.
Yes, the Pigeon has to go to school, and so do readers, and this book will surely ease the way. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: July 2, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-368-04645-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 7, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2019
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