A quirky, poignant take on the refugee crisis, though one best introduced by sensitive caregivers or educators.
Cousseau puts a unique spin on the oft-told encounter between a girl and three bears.
In this version, the girl is the homeowner, and the bears, known as the brothers Zzli, are the guests. Unlike in the fairy tale, there are no intruders—“driven out of their home,” the bears arrive at the girl’s invitation and are greeted warmly. They bring joy to her life, and together the newfound family overcomes communication barriers and other challenges. Despite the bears’ kind hearts, intolerant neighbors treat them as dangerous interlopers and respond with escalating acts of harassment and violence. Boutin’s detailed illustrations are riveting, with bold inky lines and palettes reminiscent of woodcut prints used in 20th-century Russian and Polish folk art. Lal’s translation is clear and efficient, but some of the musicality and humor of the original French text is lost in the process. As an allegory for the treatment of refugees, the story lacks the subtlety and coherence of other titles. Portraying the refugees, but not their host, as animals may reinforce their otherness, and because the depiction of the animals that make up the broader community is superficial, younger readers may not understand their motivations. Yet, with additional context and substantial adult guidance, this tale might help older readers make sense of the topic. The girl has skin the white of the page.
A quirky, poignant take on the refugee crisis, though one best introduced by sensitive caregivers or educators. (Picture book. 7-10)Pub Date: Oct. 24, 2023
ISBN: 9780802856098
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Eerdmans
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2023
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists.
How to raise money for a coveted poster: put your friends to work!
John, founder of the FUBU fashion line and a Shark Tank venture capitalist, offers a self-referential blueprint for financial success. Having only half of the $10 he needs for a Minka J poster, Daymond forks over $1 to buy a plain T-shirt, paints a picture of the pop star on it, sells it for $5, and uses all of his cash to buy nine more shirts. Then he recruits three friends to decorate them with his design and help sell them for an unspecified amount (from a conveniently free and empty street-fair booth) until they’re gone. The enterprising entrepreneur reimburses himself for the shirts and splits the remaining proceeds, which leaves him with enough for that poster as well as a “brand-new business book,” while his friends express other fiscal strategies: saving their share, spending it all on new art supplies, or donating part and buying a (math) book with the rest. (In a closing summation, the author also suggests investing in stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrency.) Though Miles cranks up the visual energy in her sparsely detailed illustrations by incorporating bright colors and lots of greenbacks, the actual advice feels a bit vague. Daymond is Black; most of the cast are people of color. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists. (Picture book. 7-9)Pub Date: March 21, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-56727-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
A fitting farewell, still funny, acute, and positive in its view of human nature even in its 37th episode.
A long-running series reaches its closing chapters.
Having, as Kline notes in her warm valedictory acknowledgements, taken 30 years to get through second and third grade, Harry Spooger is overdue to move on—but not just into fourth grade, it turns out, as his family is moving to another town as soon as the school year ends. The news leaves his best friend, narrator “Dougo,” devastated…particularly as Harry doesn’t seem all that fussed about it. With series fans in mind, the author takes Harry through a sort of last-day-of-school farewell tour. From his desk he pulls a burned hot dog and other items that featured in past episodes, says goodbye to Song Lee and other classmates, and even (for the first time ever) leads Doug and readers into his house and memento-strewn room for further reminiscing. Of course, Harry isn’t as blasé about the move as he pretends, and eyes aren’t exactly dry when he departs. But hardly is he out of sight before Doug is meeting Mohammad, a new neighbor from Syria who (along with further diversifying a cast that began as mostly white but has become increasingly multiethnic over the years) will also be starting fourth grade at summer’s end, and planning a written account of his “horrible” buddy’s exploits. Finished illustrations not seen.
A fitting farewell, still funny, acute, and positive in its view of human nature even in its 37th episode. (Fiction. 7-9)Pub Date: Nov. 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-451-47963-1
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Sept. 16, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2018
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