A brilliantly crafted tale in which persistence pays off.
The plucky pachyderm who mastered cycling in Elena Rides (2023) returns for a new adventure: camping!
Elena, a chunky blue elephant, lugs an enormous box discreetly labeled “Tent-o-Matic.” In her scoutlike neckerchief, Elena’s confident about her tent-pitching abilities. But as soon as she pulls out the tent…“GA-BUNK!” The yellow tent swallows her up! As Elena stews—and thinks—astute readers will have spotted a piece of paper she seems to have missed. Is that a list of instructions? Despite her mental work, the tent is winning: “GA-BOING!” Stomping and pouting, Elena rejects her friend the little red bird’s offer to help. But when she finally follows the directions, cheered on by her avian pal, the tent goes up: “TA-DA!” Sporting a pair of pajamas, with the bird (wearing a jaunty nightcap) perched on her arm, Elena is ready to camp. Both the artwork and the minimal, deliciously onomatopoeia-laden text beautifully convey action, humor, and emotion, from Elena’s initial optimism to her slowly mounting frustration, short-lived rage, and, finally, satisfaction at a job well done. Firm outlines focus on bright indigo Elena, set against white backgrounds, giving the cheery yellow tent in all its contorted configurations maximum impact. For all their simplicity, the illustrations will reward observant readers; Elena’s an endearing yet fully realized character whose emotions ring true.
A brilliantly crafted tale in which persistence pays off. (Early reader. 4-7)Pub Date: June 17, 2025
ISBN: 9781536216424
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
Serve this superbly designed title to all who relish slightly scary stories.
Kids know vegetables can be scary, but rarely are edible roots out to get someone. In this whimsical mock-horror tale, carrots nearly frighten the whiskers off Jasper Rabbit, an interloper at Crackenhopper Field.
Jasper loves carrots, especially those “free for the taking.” He pulls some in the morning, yanks out a few in the afternoon, and comes again at night to rip out more. Reynolds builds delicious suspense with succinct language that allows understatements to be fully exploited in Brown’s hilarious illustrations. The cartoon pictures, executed in pencil and then digitally colored, are in various shades of gray and serve as a perfectly gloomy backdrop for the vegetables’ eerie orange on each page. “Jasper couldn’t get enough carrots … / … until they started following him.” The plot intensifies as Jasper not only begins to hear the veggies nearby, but also begins to see them everywhere. Initially, young readers will wonder if this is all a product of Jasper’s imagination. Was it a few snarling carrots or just some bathing items peeking out from behind the shower curtain? The ending truly satisfies both readers and the book’s characters alike. And a lesson on greed goes down like honey instead of a forkful of spinach.
Serve this superbly designed title to all who relish slightly scary stories. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 21, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0297-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 1, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2012
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
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