Trippy and touching.
This French import about a child’s nighttime coping mechanisms asks, why grow up too fast?
Young Nasla has decided she is old enough to sleep without her favorite plush animals and toys. But at night, she sees a yellow dot in the darkness and a shadow above the wardrobe, where her father put her toys. Could that dot be her toy turtle? And when the shadow moves, she discovers it’s Timboubou, her toy elephant, who appears as a flesh-and-blood elephant in Nasla’s nocturnal visions. Nasla repeatedly tries to talk herself into an independence that the illustrations make clear she is not ready to accept. She may remind herself that she’s a “big girl now” and that night is for sleeping (not playing), but she admits that she wants to dance with the Moon, who appears in three forms (yellow, red, and silver) on human legs, and she dreams of her old toys. The delightfully bizarre, dreamlike illustrations of the girl’s fantastical night visions possess a simple elegance. And there’s a poignancy to Nasla’s decision, after she imagines ominous, long-armed ghosts and giant squids and hears “breathing in the dark,” to cling to a small blanket her mother gave her when she was a baby (her “secret charm”)—to keep herself safe from the yellow eyes (their source is revealed as feline at the book’s close) and the eccentric and surreal creatures she sees in her mind’s eye. Nasla has pale skin and bright red hair.
Trippy and touching. (Picture book. 4-10)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-61689-950-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available.
A ghost learns to appreciate his differences.
The little ghost protagonist of this title is unusual. He’s a quilt, not a lightweight sheet like his parents and friends. He dislikes being different despite his mom’s reassurance that his ancestors also had unconventional appearances. Halloween makes the little ghost happy, though. He decides to watch trick-or-treaters by draping over a porch chair—but lands on a porch rail instead. A mom accompanying her daughter picks him up, wraps him around her chilly daughter, and brings him home with them! The family likes his looks and comforting warmth, and the little ghost immediately feels better about himself. As soon as he’s able to, he flies out through the chimney and muses happily that this adventure happened only due to his being a quilt. This odd but gently told story conveys the importance of self-respect and acceptance of one’s uniqueness. The delivery of this positive message has something of a heavy-handed feel and is rushed besides. It also isn’t entirely logical: The protagonist could have been a different type of covering; a blanket, for instance, might have enjoyed an identical experience. The soft, pleasing illustrations’ palette of tans, grays, white, black, some touches of color, and, occasionally, white text against black backgrounds suggest isolation, such as the ghost feels about himself. Most humans, including the trick-or-treating mom and daughter, have beige skin. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-16.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 66.2% of actual size.)
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7352-6447-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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