Spooky summertime fun—especially satisfying for those who wish every day could be Halloween.
Grown-ups are the real monsters in this beachy picture book.
Several families are taking in the sun and waves when a youngster spies a vampire incongruously grilling mummy-shaped weenies with some monster pals. The creatures are friendly and inviting, but the adults behave frightfully, instructing the monsters to “get off of our beach” and threatening them (“Don’t come back till it’s autumn! / Or we’ll give you sandal-shaped marks on your bottom!”). Drac is unfazed, delighting the children with candy, carving watermelons into jack-o’-lanterns, and building haunted sand castles. This Halloween whimsy riles the adults, who by now are actively harassing the monsters—burying Frankenstein’s monster in the sand and hurling sticks at the others. As the sun goes down, the monsters, who’ve mostly ignored the attacks, crank some tunes that even the grown-ups can’t resist, and all agree that they should “celebrate Halloween twice every year!” A last-minute visit from Santa is a bridge too far for monsters and humans alike, but they allow the Christmas crew to enjoy the beach. Setting aside the obvious violation of vampire lore (doesn’t sunlight turn Dracula to dust?) and the unkind behavior from the adults, this book is a treat. A charming cadence makes it a fun read-aloud, and kids will delight in the cartoony pictures depicting such silliness as Frankenstein’s monster clad in a Hawaiian shirt. The human beachgoers are diverse.
Spooky summertime fun—especially satisfying for those who wish every day could be Halloween. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9780316590556
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: April 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
This frenetic ode to fatherhood is predictable fare but may please series fans.
It’s time to look for the elusive Daddysaurus.
In this latest installment in the seemingly never-ending series about a group of diverse kids attempting to trap mythical creatures, the youngsters are now on the lookout for a big mauve dinosaur with an emblazoned D on his stomach and a superhero cape. The fast-moving Daddysaurus is always on the go; he will be difficult to catch. Armed with blueprints of possible ideas, the kids decide which traps to set. As in previous works, ones of the sticky variety seem popular. They cover barbells with fly paper (Daddysaurus like to exercise) and spread glue on the handle of a shovel (Daddysaurus also likes to garden). One clever trick involves tempting Daddysaurus with a drawing of a hole, taped to the wall, because he fixes everything that breaks. Daddysaurus is certainly engaged in the children’s lives, not a workaholic or absent, but he does fall into some standard tropes associated with fathers. The rhyming quatrains stumble at times but for the most part bounce along. Overall, though, text and art feel somewhat formulaic and likely will tempt only devotees of the series. The final page of the book (after Daddysaurus is caught with love) has a space for readers to write a note or draw a picture of their own Daddysaurus. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
This frenetic ode to fatherhood is predictable fare but may please series fans. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 1, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-72826-618-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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