A great singalong that proves that Old MacDonald still has new tricks.
Turns out there’s more than a moo-moo here and a moo-moo there on Old MacDonald’s farm.
“Old MacDonald had a farm. / He loved things that go!” In fact, his garage, boathouse, and hangar (yes) seem to have more occupants than his barn. “And on that farm / he had a bike. / He loved things that go! / With a ding-ding here / and a ding-ding there. / Here a ding, there a ding, / everywhere a ding-ding.” Each vehicle gets its own onomatopoeic stanza. The car “vrooms.” The tractor “chugs.” And the train “choo-choos.” In each double-page spread, Old MacDonald and his gleeful animals make use of a different vehicle, leading up to a tongue-twister–y four-page summation at the close. Clarke’s expansion of the ode to noisy farm beasts that every 2-year-old can sing will have listeners joining in by the second stanza. Young machinery mavens won’t notice the syllabic aerobics needed to shoehorn “combine harvester” (it goes “whir”) and “fire truck” into the rhyme, it’ll just add a giggle or two. Blanco’s digitally created illustrations of joyous white farmer and flock have a bright, sunny retro look that is as inviting and catchy as Clarke’s verse.
A great singalong that proves that Old MacDonald still has new tricks. (Picture book. 2-8)Pub Date: April 4, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-85763-407-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Review Posted Online: Dec. 20, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2017
This should send Dark Knight fans flying to the Batcave—or the bedroom.
Holy bedtime, Batman!
In a sleepy-looking neighborhood under a dusky cerulean sky, a young, brown-haired, white boy goes through the motions of getting ready for bed: he brushes his teeth, takes a bath, picks up his toys, and feeds his fish. In a parallel visual narrative, beckoned by the cat's-eye–yellow bat-signal, Batman keeps Gotham safe for another night by catching crooks, locking them away, and avenging those who have been wronged. Though the two characters are quite different, through a carefully flexible narrative, Dahl and Beavers weave a convincing tale of just how similar they might be. “It’s time to take care of business” describes the child’s trip to the potty and Batman’s dive down a manhole equally well, for instance. Beavers' art is visually striking and vibrantly hued, perfect for keeping young eyes glued to each page. Dahl's economical text is cadenced with a gentle lilt, just right for a bedtime read-aloud. Young fans of the caped crusader will delight in spying their favorite characters. In the already-overstuffed bedtime-book market, this is certainly a niche read, but it hits its mark well, delivering fun without darkness. A “bedtime checklist” at the end aptly includes “story time.”
This should send Dark Knight fans flying to the Batcave—or the bedroom. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-62370-732-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A nice but not requisite purchase.
A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.
Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.
A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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