A clever new version of a classic tale that remains fairly faithful to the original.
An avian community grapples with the aftermath of a tragic death in Charach’s illustrated children’s book.
A robin lies dead on the ground. A sparrow cries that they shot him: “I, said the Sparrow, With my broken bow and arrow, I shot Cock Robin.” Thus opens this adaptation of a classic English nursery rhyme—but in this iteration, the animals involved are all birds. Each participates in the incident according to the skills closely associated with their species: The magpie watched the incident unfold, the vultures volunteer to pick clean the body after it’s been wiped of blood by the redwing, and the woodcock and the swift offer to prepare the coffin. When it comes time to plan the funeral itself, the drake, wren, raven, and dove step up to lead the planners, and be pallbearers, clergy, and the chief mourner, respectively. The thrush and mockingbird, classically musical songbirds, are tapped to present the psalms and eulogy, respectively, while others follow them in a mournful procession to Cock Robin’s gravesite. In a nod to the original rhyme, the bullfinch (as opposed to the bull) tolls the bell for the ceremony as the other birds gather around the grave dug by Owl, “a-sighin’ and a-sobbin’.” Charach’s reinterpretation of the original rhyme is seamless, fitting neatly into its lyrical pattern while gently pushing it in a new direction. However, while in his afterword he asserts that “the guilt of the sparrow, recast as female, is finally in question,” little evidence supports this claim in his actual text; the word “broken” has been added to describe the bow and arrow, but it’s easy to miss, and there is no mention of the sparrow’s gender at all. The DeWitts’ illustrations are rooted in realism but remain playful with the addition of hats and other accessories to help distinguish the birds. Their rendition of Cock Robin’s death may scare more sensitive children, who could balk at the sight of a bleeding bird on the very first page.
A clever new version of a classic tale that remains fairly faithful to the original.Pub Date: Feb. 27, 2025
ISBN: 9781038329578
Page Count: 24
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: yesterday
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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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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BOOK REVIEW
The greeting-card art and jokey rhymes work for the baby-shower market but not for the youngest readers.
Animal parents declare their love for their offspring through rhymed puns and sentimental art.
The title sets the scene for what’s to come: The owl asks the owlet as they fly together, “WHOO loves you?”; the kangaroo and joey make each other “very HOPPY”; and the lioness and cub are a “PURRRFECT pair.” Most of the puns are both unimaginative and groanworthy, and they are likely to go over the heads of toddlers, who are not know for their wordplay abilities. The text is set in abcb quatrains split over two double-page spreads. On each spread, one couplet appears on the verso within a lightly decorated border on pastel pages. On the recto, a full-bleed portrait of the animal and baby appears in softly colored and cozy images. Hearts are prominent on every page, floating between the parent and baby as if it is necessary to show the love between each pair. Although these critters are depicted in mistily conceived natural habitats and are unclothed, they are human stand-ins through and through.
The greeting-card art and jokey rhymes work for the baby-shower market but not for the youngest readers. (Board book. 6 mos-2)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-7282-1374-3
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: June 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020
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