Charming for coastal ferry-riding kids but less enticing for the landlocked.
A nautical reminder that there is value in different strengths and skills.
Little Ferry is patient, steadfast, and punctual, but she longs to be fast and noisy like Speedboat, blithe and lithe as Sailboat, or even bold and fearless like Tugboat. But try as she might, Little Ferry can’t quite emulate the other vessels. Unsurprisingly, it’s not long before an emergency arises and Little Ferry uses her strengths to save the day. A mixture of double-page spreads and smaller panels pop with bright blue, nautical red, and crisp white. The linework is pleasing and supports the overall graphic design tone with familiar elements of both Virginia Burton's and Stephen Savage's works. Human sightseers have a variety of skin tones and hair colors. The big eyes, tiny mouths, and pink cheeks of the anthropomorphized watercraft are pleasant but lack emotional expression at times. The plot is well worn and devoid of novel twists, though the brief, descriptive narrative is suitable for reading aloud to ferry-frenzied little ones. However, it likely won’t resonate with youngsters with limited boating exposure, and the story and artwork aren’t quite strong enough to make this a compelling introduction to the topic for those readers. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Charming for coastal ferry-riding kids but less enticing for the landlocked. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5344-8769-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2022
It’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how many mediocre sequels you can squeeze out of Seussian property.
Since a reformed Grinch is hardly any fun, this follow-up Grinches him up once more.
Those seeking more of the same, prepare to receive precisely that. Christmas is coming (again!), and the Grinch can hardly wait. He’s been patient all year, and now he can finally show the Whos down in Who-ville how much he’s changed. When the Grinch learns of a tree-decorating contest, he figures that if he wins, it’ll prove he truly has the Christmas spirit. He throws himself into the task, but when it comes time to judge the trees, the Grinch is horrified to discover that he’s received only the second-place trophy. Can Cindy-Lou Who find the words to save the day? Replicating many of the original beats and wordplay of the original, this tale feels like less a sequel and more like a vaguely rewritten variation. Meanwhile, Ruiz’s art seeks to bridge the gap between the animated Chuck Jones version of the Grinch and the one depicted in the original book. This thankless task results in a strange uncanny valley between Seuss and Jones but does allow the artist a chance to colorize everything and lend some racial diversity to the Who population (Cindy-Lou is light-skinned). (This book was reviewed digitally.)
It’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how many mediocre sequels you can squeeze out of Seussian property. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9780593563168
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A wandering effort, happy but pointless.
The perfect book for kids who love dragons and mild tacos.
Rubin’s story starts with an incantatory edge: “Hey, kid! Did you know that dragons love tacos? They love beef tacos and chicken tacos. They love really big gigantic tacos and tiny little baby tacos as well.” The playing field is set: dragons, tacos. As a pairing, they are fairly silly, and when the kicker comes in—that dragons hate spicy salsa, which ignites their inner fireworks—the silliness is sillier still. Second nature, after all, is for dragons to blow flames out their noses. So when the kid throws a taco party for the dragons, it seems a weak device that the clearly labeled “totally mild” salsa comes with spicy jalapenos in the fine print, prompting the dragons to burn down the house, resulting in a barn-raising at which more tacos are served. Harmless, but if there is a parable hidden in the dragon-taco tale, it is hidden in the unlit deep, and as a measure of lunacy, bridled or unbridled, it doesn’t make the leap into the outer reaches of imagination. Salmieri’s artwork is fitting, with a crabbed, ethereal line work reminiscent of Peter Sís, but the story does not offer it enough range.
A wandering effort, happy but pointless. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: June 14, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3680-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: March 27, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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