Few words pair with lots of humor for a delightful outing.
Two canine friends chase a butterfly in an adventurous romp.
Big, a large, shaggy black dog, and Little, an energetic, small white pup, each react to a passing butterfly differently. When Little takes off in a chase, Big follows “Behind” while Little forges “Ahead.” They go “Over” (Big) and “Under” (Little) a fence, aim their noses “Low” and “High,” and are “Timid” or “Bold” and “Loud” or “Quiet.” Deep, richly hued realistic paintings tell a fuller story than that expressed through the total text of 30 paired opposite words. Pilgrim’s detailed, actively drawn animals reflect expressive—and frequently contrasting—emotions, especially through her depictions of the dogs’ eyes. When the dogs enter a wooded area and encounter an ornery bear that is comically disturbed when the butterfly lands on its nose, the chase becomes a quick scamper home, where the two friends settle on the porch for a rest. Little sprawls “Asleep” atop Big, who stays very much “Awake” anticipating the next caper—like that squirrel….Some careful picture perusing and dialogic reading will extend the narrative beyond the original opposite concepts introduced in this almost wordless story. Big and Little’s owner is never depicted, but pictures on the wall suggest that she is a woman of color.
Few words pair with lots of humor for a delightful outing. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 23, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-8234-4021-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Jan. 14, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
A successful swap from coconut tree to Christmas tree.
A Christmas edition of the beloved alphabet book.
The story starts off nearly identically to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (1989), written by John Archambault and the late Bill Martin Jr, with the letters A, B, and C deciding to meet in the branches of a tree. This time, they’re attempting to scale a Christmas tree, not a coconut tree, and the letters are strung together like garland. A, B, and C are joined by the other letters, and of course they all “slip, slop, topple, plop!” right down the tree. At the bottom, they discover an assortment of gifts, all in a variety of shapes. As a team, the letters and presents organize themselves to get back up on the Christmas tree and get a star to the top. Holiday iterations of favorite tales often fall flat, but this take succeeds. The gifts are an easy way to reinforce another preschool concept—shapes—and the text uses just enough of the original to be familiar. The rhyming works, sticking to the cadence of the source material. The illustrations pay homage to the late Lois Ehlert’s, featuring the same bold block letters, though they lack some of the whimsy and personality of the original. Otherwise, everything is similarly brightly colored and simply drawn. Those familiar with the classic will be drawn to this one, but newcomers can enjoy it on its own.
A successful swap from coconut tree to Christmas tree. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781665954761
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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