Inspiration for anyone hoping to find a crew of foulmouthed, barnacle-laden sea dogs of their very own.
Self-actualization for this chipper bridge dweller comes when he trades goats for glory.
Failure comes in many forms. Cliff, alas, has mastered them all. He may be green and somewhat rectangular in shape, but at troll school, he’s just the worst. Everything—his demeanor, his singing, his vegetarianism—rankles his teacher and classmates. Ready to try something new, Cliff high-tails it to pirate school instead. Though it fits his personality to a T, the work is tough, and the little troll lives in fear of his next report card. Fortunately, when you love what you’re doing, that can make all the difference. There are smidgens of cleverness hidden in the margins of this seemingly simple tale. Jokes like one troll saying, “Trolls are landlubbers,” followed by “YEAH! We lub the land!” hit the spot. Likewise, while the cartoon art remains bubbly and cheery, it isn’t afraid to slip in the occasional “tibi ipsi esto fidelis” (“to thine own self be true”) hidden on a bridge for kicks. Cliff’s awakening isn’t granted without hard work on his part, an idea that has broad application. Even dreams must be earned.
Inspiration for anyone hoping to find a crew of foulmouthed, barnacle-laden sea dogs of their very own. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Jan. 19, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-63217-246-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Little Bigfoot/Sasquatch
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2020
Take strength from the dreamers before you and follow your dreams. Or maybe just roll the dice.
Is it a book about aspirations or the backstory for the board game?
Chickapig is defined as “an animal hybrid that is half-chicken and half-pig” and is depicted in yellow, two-legged chick shape with pink pig snout and ears. Young Joe Chickapig lives on a farm that was his grandfather’s dream, but it’s getting Joe down. He dreams of adventure but needs the “courage to follow his heart. / But how could he do it? How could he start?” In a bedtime story, Joe’s mother shares the influential characters that helped Joe’s sailor grandfather “follow his heart against the tide.” It seems that “Grandpa had heard a story told / Of a great big bear who broke the mold. / The bear was tired of striking fear”—so he became a forest doctor and a friend to all. And the bear’s inspiration? “A mouse who went to space.” The mouse, in turn, found hope in a “fierce young dragon” who joined a rock band. And coming full circle, the dragon found courage from a Chickapig warrior who “tired of shields and swords to wield” and established a farm. Chickapig game fans will appreciate this fanciful rhyming tale illustrated in attention-grabbing colors, but readers coming to it cold will note a distinct absence of plot. Mouse and dragon present female; all others are male.
Take strength from the dreamers before you and follow your dreams. Or maybe just roll the dice. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Jan. 14, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7944-4452-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Printers Row
Review Posted Online: Oct. 8, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2019
A read worth waiting for.
Two children find themselves on a time-traveling adventure while they wait for Grandpa’s cookies to come out of the oven.
When Kat and Ari build a time machine, they set it for “the future, to just after the cookies [are] finished baking.” But they end up bouncing through time—to that evening, when the cookies have already been eaten, then back to their very first time baking with Grandpa as young tots. Then they find themselves in the very distant future. Through this journey, Kat and Ari realize that waiting’s much easier when you lean into enjoying the passage of time together. Soft pastel colors convey this message deftly. Speeding through time, the children fly past an ombre rainbow. A wash of blue instantly indicates a nighttime scene lit by the light of Grandpa’s front porch. The far-off future includes plenty for readers to take in: a house with legs, a dragon-inspired airplane, and special tubes through which townspeople float through in place of streets. Effective use of panels moves the narrative along and gives it a graphic novel–esque feel. This playful story examines a child’s natural impatience while showcasing how very rewarding and special waiting can be. Grandpa has light brown skin, while Kat has tan skin; Ari presents Black.
A read worth waiting for. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2024
ISBN: 9781665936743
Page Count: 56
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2024
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