Amply demonstrates that kindergarten lays the foundation for life, both in the lessons learned and in the opportunities...
When her beloved kindergarten teacher goes on maternity leave, Mabel gently guides the substitute to be a better teacher and finds a future career.
Her absent teacher’s influence is evident throughout, as Mabel continually uses the lessons Mrs. Ampersand has taught the class to cheer up her classmates, calm them down, give pointers to the new sub (Mrs. Windbag), and help shape behaviors. For example, when Albert starts making “mouth noises“ to mock the new teacher’s name, Mabel points out that he’s disappointing Mrs. Ampersand, who taught them “to be kind to every living thing.” And after patiently listening to Mrs. Windbag drone on about natural gas (!) for over an hour, Mabel asks to change the topic and teaches everyone about bats (spurring Albert to check all the bat books out of the library). Hunt’s brightly colored illustrations portray a diverse classroom of students and teachers (Mrs. Ampersand is black, while Mrs. Windbag is white, as Mabel appears to be as well). Though all the students exhibit great body language and expressive faces, Mabel is the only one with personality. The riffs on Mrs. Windbag’s name—and its insulting nature—may largely go over readers’ heads, but adults will chuckle when she pulls out her bagpipes and talks about a hot air balloon ride.
Amply demonstrates that kindergarten lays the foundation for life, both in the lessons learned and in the opportunities presented. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: July 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5107-2071-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2018
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily.
A group of young “dinosauruses” go out into the world on their own.
A fuchsia little Hugasaurus and her Pappysaur (both of whom resemble Triceratops) have never been apart before, but Hugasaurus happily heads off with lunchbox in hand and “wonder in her heart” to make new friends. The story has a first-day-of-school feeling, but Hugasaurus doesn’t end up in a formal school environment; rather, she finds herself on a playground with other little prehistoric creatures, though no teacher or adult seems to be around. At first, the new friends laugh and play. But Hugasaurus’ pals begin to squabble, and play comes to a halt. As she wonders what to do, a fuzzy platypus playmate asks some wise questions (“What…would your Pappy say to do? / What makes YOU feel better?”), and Hugasaurus decides to give everyone a hug—though she remembers to ask permission first. Slowly, good humor is restored and play begins anew with promises to be slow to anger and, in general, to help create a kinder world. Short rhyming verses occasionally use near rhyme but also include fun pairs like ripples and double-triples. Featuring cozy illustrations of brightly colored creatures, the tale sends a strong message about appropriate and inappropriate ways to resolve conflict, the final pages restating the lesson plainly in a refrain that could become a classroom motto. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-338-82869-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
© Copyright 2024 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.
