A charming story of friendship and acceptance, distinguished by humorous and affectionate illustrations.
Fed up and frustrated with the indignities of life as a bear, Bear joins a family of ducks only to end up realizing that being a bear has its own compensations.
“That’s it!” Bear growls after angry bees sting his nose. “I am done being a bear.” When a family of ducks passes by, Bear slips into line, hoping he can join in unnoticed. Young children (and their parents) will recognize Bear’s angry frustration and then his eager hopefulness as he begs his new friend to teach him how to be a perfect duck. Bear tries to be a good student, building a giant nest to keep an egg safe and warm, swimming with gleeful—and splashy—joy, and finding the perfect hill to practice flying. But of course, all does not go as planned. After a crash landing, Bear realizes that he isn’t so good at being a duck and climbs a tree to sulk. Debut author/illustrator Hudson delights readers with expressive, endearing characters and sweetly ridiculous situations. Her watercolors are softly shaded, with lovely texture. Ink details add fine points, both in the setting and characters. In the end, Bear and readers realize that being “a really good bear… / and a really good friend” are as sweet as licking a paw (or wing) full of honey.
A charming story of friendship and acceptance, distinguished by humorous and affectionate illustrations. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 12, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-06-232051-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school...
The familiar theme of the challenges facing a new kid in town is given an original treatment by photographer Border in this book of photos of three-dimensional objects in a simple modeled landscape.
Peanut Butter is represented by a slice of white bread spread with the popular condiment. The other characters in the story—a hamburger with a pair of hot dogs in tow, a bowl of alphabet soup, a meatball jumping a rope of spaghetti, a carton of French fries and a pink cupcake—are represented by skillfully crafted models of these foods, anthropomorphized using simple wire construction. Rejected by each character in turn in his search for playmates, Peanut Butter discovers in the end that Jelly is his true match (not Cupcake, as the title suggests), perhaps because she is the only one who looks like him, being a slice of white bread spread with jelly. The friendly foods end up happily playing soccer together. Some parents may have trouble with the unabashedly happy depiction of carbs and American junk food (no carrots or celery sticks in this landscape), and others may find themselves troubled by the implication that friendship across difference is impossible.
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school experiences. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: July 29, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-399-16773-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2014
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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