Gentle encouragement to embrace life’s inevitable changes.
Life moves forward, sometimes back.
Ophelia, narrating in first-person present tense, loves Jackson, a neighbor’s dog who, attached to a clothesline, runs back and forth each day. When he disappears, heartbroken Ophelia draws a “magic hopscotch” grid on the ground, hopping on it forward and backward and wishing for his return. Ophelia and family, who “move all the time,” leave because Dad needs to look for a new job. Outside their dilapidated new cabin, imaginative Ophelia spies giant rabbits and “crow-witches.” On the first day of school, Ophelia encounters an “ogre” (the crossing guard) and a brown-skinned “fairy princess” (the teacher) who speak French, which Ophelia doesn’t understand. Ever mindful Ophelia draws Jackson’s portrait and creates a hopscotch grid on which everyone plays. That night, while dreaming, Ophelia is able, at last, to bid Jackson “au revoir.” After another move, far from the scary creatures, Ophelia’s language skills blossom, and the child soars, confident that “I will learn to fly!” This poignant story is about taking tentative first steps toward independence. The hopscotch drawings are artful but vague metaphors for life’s shifting fortunes; they suggest one moves both forward and backward along life’s path. This lofty notion, also conveyed through Jackson’s movements and the family’s frequent address changes, may go over kids’ heads, though the cheery, stylized illustrations are lively, delicate, and airy. The protagonist has light skin; classmates are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Gentle encouragement to embrace life’s inevitable changes. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2023
ISBN: 9781773068435
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Groundwood
Review Posted Online: May 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2023
SEEN & HEARD
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
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