This winning tale with considerable child appeal will entertain young readers whether they suffer from a bit of separation...
Though he is distressed that his mother is going out for the whole day without him for the first time, Arthur and Grandma do their best to play through his bouts of moodiness and engage in some adventurous fun.
Small Arthur the mouse, dressed in a cozy, bright green dragon costume, is an adorable little fellow sure to instantly charm readers. Mommy takes him to Grandma’s house, where he is greeted with a big hug, “[b]ut soon it was time for Mommy to go.” Arthur “waved and waved until Mommy was gone.” Sympathetic Grandma suggests some activities. Paint a picture? “Rargghh!” Make some dragon music? “OK!” Each time Arthur and Grandma get carried away with their imaginary games, the doorbell rings. And each time Arthur is disappointed when it is the letter carrier or a neighbor instead of his mother. Dedicated Grandma matches each moment of despair with an even better idea. From hiding treasure to protecting its hiding place from the tickling Grandma-Knight, Arthur is kept happily occupied. When the doorbell rings one more time, brave Arthur the dragon is ready to battle whoever dares to enter. What a surprise when it is Mommy! Corderoy and Edgson combine an engaging text with a variety of full-page and spot illustrations that capture exciting episodes of dramatic play—Grandma brandishing her feather duster as a sword is particularly impressive—and glimpses of fleeting emotion.
This winning tale with considerable child appeal will entertain young readers whether they suffer from a bit of separation anxiety or not. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-58925-130-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: March 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2013
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren.
In talk-show host Fallon and illustrator Ordóñez’s latest picture-book collaboration, an elderly pooch waxes rhapsodic about a life well lived.
Observing Papa sitting in his chair watching TV all day, a young pup says, “I’m starting to think…you don’t do ANYTHING.” So Papa proceeds to list his accomplishments, both big and small, mundane and profound. Some are just a result of being older and physically bigger (being tall enough to reach a high shelf and strong enough to open jars); others include winning a race and performing in a band when he was younger. Eventually, the pup realizes that while Papa may have slowed down in his old age, he’s led a full life. The most satisfying thing about Papa’s life now? Watching his grandchild take center stage: “I can say lots of thoughts / but I choose to be quiet. / I’d rather you discover things and then try it.” Fallon’s straightforward text is sweetly upbeat, though it occasionally lacks flow, forcing incongruous situations together to fit the rhyme scheme (“I cook and I mow, / and I once flew a plane. // I play newspaper puzzles because it’s good for my brain”). Featuring uncluttered, colorful backgrounds, Ordóñez’s child-friendly digital art at times takes on sepia tones, evoking the sense of looking back at old photos or memories. Though the creators tread familiar ground, the love between Papa and his little one is palpable.
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781250393975
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Yes, the Pigeon has to go to school, and so do readers, and this book will surely ease the way.
All the typical worries and excuses kids have about school are filtered through Willems’ hysterical, bus-loving Pigeon.
Told mostly in speech balloons, the bird’s monologue will have kids (and their caregivers) in stitches at Pigeon’s excuses. From already knowing everything (except whatever question readers choose to provide in response to “Go ahead—ask me a question. / Any question!”) to fearing learning too much (“My head might pop off”), Pigeon’s imagination has run wild. Readers familiar with Pigeon will recognize the muted, matte backgrounds that show off the bird’s shenanigans so well. As in previous outings, Willems varies the size of the pigeon on the page to help communicate emotion, the bird teeny small on the double-page spread that illustrates the confession that “I’m… / scared.” And Pigeon’s eight-box rant about all the perils of school (“The unknown stresses me out, dude”) is marvelously followed by the realization (complete with lightbulb thought bubble) that school is the place for students to practice, with experts, all those skills they don’t yet have. But it is the ending that is so Willems, so Pigeon, and so perfect. Pigeon’s last question is “Well, HOW am I supposed to get there, anyway!?!” Readers will readily guess both the answer and Pigeon’s reaction.
Yes, the Pigeon has to go to school, and so do readers, and this book will surely ease the way. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: July 2, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-368-04645-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 7, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2019
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
