The warm Christmas glow traditionally associated with this classic poem is completely missing in this unusual but ultimately...
The old-fashioned phrases of the classic Christmas poem are juxtaposed with edgy, contemporary illustrations.
An unusual double-page spread serving as the title page defines the scene and the artistic style with a night view of a suburban street. All the houses are dark and undecorated save for a few plain wreaths on front doors. But one house is decidedly different, decorated lavishly with lights, ornaments, inflatable figures, and a “Welcome Santa” sign atop the highest tree. Inside this house, over-the-top decorations also prevail, surrounding the family and the dog, cat, and mouse that appear throughout. The father wears old-fashioned, striped pajamas and a nightcap, and when Santa arrives, he is dressed in a traditional red suit. But the reindeer are dressed in odd costumes that don’t relate to anything else. The illustrations, presumably digitally composed, are unusual in style, with all the characters seemingly frozen in their tracks or even in midair. No motion is indicated at all, even for the reindeer in flight or for Santa sprawled on the hearth after his descent. This flat, static effect is emphasized by a cool palette of greens and blues that further subdues the tone. The overall effect makes characters seem like posed robots with no life to them at all.
The warm Christmas glow traditionally associated with this classic poem is completely missing in this unusual but ultimately unsuccessful interpretation. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-545-39112-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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