Mundane, beachy tales enlivened by a few funny moments.
On a hot day, roommates Cat, Rat, and Bat head to the seaside.
Unfortunately, laden by supplies, the trio miss their bus. “Too slow,” says Cat, frowning at the others as the vehicle drives off. But Rat points out, “That bus was too fast.” The next bus comes, and the friends reach the beach. Cat and Bat admire the beautiful views; Rat, mystifyingly, exclaims, “TOO SLOW!” The second tale in this book (made up of “three-and-a-half stories”) sees the threesome enjoying a snack. Rat warns Bat against sharing with the sea gulls; as the aggressive birds descend on Bat, Cat frightens them away. In the “half” story, Rat discovers what readers will already have noticed a few pages ago: He left his kite behind. In the final tale, the trio search the beach in vain before finding a creative replacement: Bat! Soaring high in the sky, Bat can see the friends’ house from here, and somewhat abruptly, the three of them decide to return home. Aimed at beginning readers, the text is simple, though not always phonetic (sweaty, breathed, thought), and in a very small font. While the storyline feels a bit meandering and uneventful (with a few jokes that don’t quite land), Teague’s depictions of anthropomorphic animals do ramp up the humor—a scene of the hungry gulls menacing bug-eyed Bat will elicit chuckles.
Mundane, beachy tales enlivened by a few funny moments. (Easy reader/picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 29, 2025
ISBN: 9781665957427
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2025
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school...
The familiar theme of the challenges facing a new kid in town is given an original treatment by photographer Border in this book of photos of three-dimensional objects in a simple modeled landscape.
Peanut Butter is represented by a slice of white bread spread with the popular condiment. The other characters in the story—a hamburger with a pair of hot dogs in tow, a bowl of alphabet soup, a meatball jumping a rope of spaghetti, a carton of French fries and a pink cupcake—are represented by skillfully crafted models of these foods, anthropomorphized using simple wire construction. Rejected by each character in turn in his search for playmates, Peanut Butter discovers in the end that Jelly is his true match (not Cupcake, as the title suggests), perhaps because she is the only one who looks like him, being a slice of white bread spread with jelly. The friendly foods end up happily playing soccer together. Some parents may have trouble with the unabashedly happy depiction of carbs and American junk food (no carrots or celery sticks in this landscape), and others may find themselves troubled by the implication that friendship across difference is impossible.
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school experiences. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: July 29, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-399-16773-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2014
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
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