Fortitude and phonics make failure wildly funny.
A paean to perseverance, featuring almost every word one can make with the phoneme -ake.
Big-eyed Blake the snake holds readers’ attention—and much more. Using the many muscular coils on his exceptionally long body, he’s adept at flicking light switches, cracking eggs, and beating batter—except when he’s not, and everything crashes to the floor. But no matter: “Let’s try that again!” And again and again. The outcome may be frustrating, but Blake isn’t deterred. As he meticulously pipes the word happy on another cake, an “EARTHQUAKE!” knocks everything over. Never mind! The next illustration sees Blake peering into the oven to see a beautifully rising confection. But as Blake attempts to deliver the cake (“Snakes can skate?!”), an unexpected encounter with a family of ducks (“BRAKE! BRAKE!”) leads to disaster. Blake prepares other cakes that also meet with disaster, thanks to an ill-placed “rake” and a tumble into the “lake.” Yes, these mishaps bring “heartache,” but readers will giggle as Blake, looking a mite peeved but mostly determined, doggedly produces yet another iteration. Finally an unscathed masterpiece survives, and Blake is able to celebrate his friend Drake’s birthday. The tale ends with Blake considering other career options: director (“Let’s try another take!”), cook (“Mastering the best milkshake!”), and stand-up comic (“Laugh with Blake till your belly aches!”). Digital watercolors give Blake attractive, detailed human surroundings (like the baking bowls piling up in the sink) and easily readable emotions thanks to his wildly expressive eyebrows.
Fortitude and phonics make failure wildly funny. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780593621745
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say.
A dog-loving child encourages a less-than-enthusiastic younger one to imagine they’re both canines.
From the first declaration—“I’d be a big dog! And you’d be a little one!”—readers know who’s calling the shots. Initially, the protagonists cavort off the page and through the neighborhood together, performing doggy capers such as tail wagging, stick carrying, and dirt digging. But by the time they encounter a multitude of like-minded creatures at the dog park, the disgruntled small pup is exhibiting out-and-out rebellion: “Being a dog is YOUR idea! Sometimes I HAVE IDEAS TOO!” The narrative wraps up with the younger child pretending to be a different animal entirely—cleverly foreshadowed through subtle details in the illustrations. Even the endpapers—lively silhouettes of dogs in the beginning and many different animals in closing—extend the theme to suggest the imaginative possibilities of pretend play. Cheerful, lightly hued colors fit the whimsical mood, while expressive body language allows the art to tell the story with a minimum of words. Ending on a surprising note, with a sweet compromise between the two main characters, the tale gives both kids the freedom to embrace their own preferences and styles—while still enjoying their game.
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9780316581721
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
A funny tale about stress and an ever upping ante, with a comforting end.
Something is preventing Owl from falling asleep.
Owl leans back against his white pillow and headboard. “Squeek!” says something underneath the bed. Owl’s never heard that sound before, so he fastens his pink bathrobe and answers the front door. Nobody. It must be the wind; back to bed. Bidding himself goodnight, he climbs into bed—and hears the noise again. Time after time, he pops out of bed seeking the squeaker. Is it in the cupboard? He empties the shelves. Under the floor? He pulls up his floorboards. As Owl’s actions ratchet up—he destroys the roof and smashes the walls, all in search of the squeak—so does his anxiety. Not until he hunkers down in bed under the night sky (his bed is now outdoors, because the house’s roof and walls are gone), frantically clutching his pillow, does he see what readers have seen all along: a small, gray mouse. In simple illustrations with black outlines, textured coloring, and foreshortened perspective, Pizzoli plays mischievously with mouse placement. Sometimes the mouse is behind Owl or just out of his sightline; other times, the mouse is on a solid, orange-colored page across the spread from Owl, which removes him from Owl’s scene in a rather postmodern manner. Is the mouse toying with Owl? Who knows?
A funny tale about stress and an ever upping ante, with a comforting end. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: April 19, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4847-1275-7
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2016
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