An absorbing series opener that celebrates the escapism of imaginative play.
A lonely, creative second grader manifests a new pal.
Mabel’s friends have been moved to another classroom, and her parents are busy raising twin infants and working from home. Mabel’s been having trouble focusing in class—but who can she turn to? After some covert appearances, an imaginary friend is revealed in the form of a pachyderm named Mr. Elephant (Mr. E for short). He’s a humorous playmate, a sympathetic sounding board, and even a voice of reason when Mabel’s insecurities get the best of her. Mabel fully understands that Mr. E isn’t real; indeed, his actions give her a way to cope with her own clumsiness and forgetfulness as she blames mishaps such as knocking over the classroom easels on her new companion. The highly expressive Mr. E brings a visual flair to the artwork, comprised mostly of stick figure–like characters. Words scrawled in a handwritten font, interspersed throughout the illustrations, add context to Mabel’s perception of the world (an arrow pointing to the words “time moving extra slowly” beside the classroom clock, for instance). The story is all rising action, ending as it does on a cliffhanger, but readers will be eager to see what’s next for Mabel and Mr. E. Mabel and her family are light-skinned, and her school’s population is diverse.
An absorbing series opener that celebrates the escapism of imaginative play. (Graphic fiction. 6-8)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2025
ISBN: 9780593752883
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
A lesson that never grows old, enacted with verve by two favorite friends
Gerald the elephant learns a truth familiar to every preschooler—heck, every human: “Waiting is not easy!”
When Piggie cartwheels up to Gerald announcing that she has a surprise for him, Gerald is less than pleased to learn that the “surprise is a surprise.” Gerald pumps Piggie for information (it’s big, it’s pretty, and they can share it), but Piggie holds fast on this basic principle: Gerald will have to wait. Gerald lets out an almighty “GROAN!” Variations on this basic exchange occur throughout the day; Gerald pleads, Piggie insists they must wait; Gerald groans. As the day turns to twilight (signaled by the backgrounds that darken from mauve to gray to charcoal), Gerald gets grumpy. “WE HAVE WASTED THE WHOLE DAY!…And for WHAT!?” Piggie then gestures up to the Milky Way, which an awed Gerald acknowledges “was worth the wait.” Willems relies even more than usual on the slightest of changes in posture, layout and typography, as two waiting figures can’t help but be pretty static. At one point, Piggie assumes the lotus position, infuriating Gerald. Most amusingly, Gerald’s elephantine groans assume weighty physicality in spread-filling speech bubbles that knock Piggie to the ground. And the spectacular, photo-collaged images of the Milky Way that dwarf the two friends makes it clear that it was indeed worth the wait.
A lesson that never grows old, enacted with verve by two favorite friends . (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4231-9957-1
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2014
Approachable and comfortably predictable.
A young ghost arrives at Scare School.
Unlike big sister Bella, late bloomer Bash has never been good at “all the GHOST STUFF.” Dad’s sure that Scare School is just what Bash needs. Bash isn’t so certain; he’s intimidated by his classmates and teachers. But he perks up when he meets his roommate, Itsy, a smart, welcoming spider, though he vows to steer clear of mean-spirited Vlad and Vicky. Still, the dreaded Creature Aptitude Test worries Bash. To pass, he must pass through solid objects and turn himself invisible—skills he struggles with. Bash doesn’t want to be kicked out of school, so he’ll have to buckle down. With Itsy’s help and encouragement from his classmates, Bash realizes he’s more capable than he thought. Written in first person from endearingly anxious Bash’s point of view, the book has a diarylike feel. The text is presented in a handwritten font, while grayscale cartoon illustrations are peppered throughout. The supportive, sincere friendship between Bash and Itsy is the most compelling part of the story. Letters between Bash and Bella shed further light on Bash’s personality and their relationship. Though the book’s takeaway—believe in yourself, and you can do anything—is a familiar one, it’s just what many children need…and who better to deliver the message than an adorably nervous ghost?
Approachable and comfortably predictable. (Fiction. 6-8)Pub Date: July 16, 2024
ISBN: 9781665922098
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Aladdin
Review Posted Online: April 20, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2024
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