Not a total hairball, but far from a first purr-chase.
Mr. Puffball’s done with being a stunt cat…what’s next for him?
Mr. Puffball came to Hollywood in Stunt Cat to the Stars (2015) to be like his idol, El Gato, and ended up being El Gato’s stunt cat. Now he’s tired of being set on fire and nearly breaking every bone in his body, so he and El Gato have decided to make a buddy picture—they just have to sell it to the suits. Ever unreliable, El Gato leaves Mr. Puffball to pitch their idea, Mac & Cheesy’s Excellent Adventure, alone. It doesn’t matter; the suits like the idea of a buddy pic—but they want Jude Claw and Benedict Cumbercat to star instead of our heroes. The duo has one chance: to make a buddy picture demo reel that is better than Claw and Cumbercat’s. Good thing they have their Hollywood friends to help them out. They embark on a cross-country trek, joining Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, bungee jumping at the Hoover Dam, and leaping over the Grand Canyon (kind of), among other stunts…but someone seems to be sabotaging their efforts. As in the series opener, Lombardo’s second effort is full of spot comics and illustrations, but in this outing, most if not all of the jokes should be accessible to the target audience. That said, the cat puns and slapstick are not as funny as they want to be, and there are few surprises (or laughs). (Final art and aftermatter not seen.)
Not a total hairball, but far from a first purr-chase. (Graphic/fantasy hybrid. 7-11)Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-232068-1
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
We challenge anyone to read this and keep a straight face.
Four misunderstood villains endeavor to turn over a new leaf…or a new rap sheet in Blabey's frenzied romp.
As readers open the first page of this early chapter book, Mr. Wolf is right there to greet them, bemoaning his reputation. "Just because I've got BIG POINTY TEETH and RAZOR-SHARP CLAWS and I occasionally like to dress up like an OLD LADY, that doesn't mean… / … I'm a BAD GUY." To prove this very fact, Mr. Wolf enlists three equally slandered friends into the Good Guys Club: Mr. Snake (aka the Chicken Swallower), Mr. Piranha (aka the Butt Biter), and Mr. Shark (aka Jaws). After some convincing from Mr. Wolf, the foursome sets off determined to un-smirch their names (and reluctantly curbing their appetites). Although these predators find that not everyone is ready to be at the receiving end of their helpful efforts, they use all their Bad Guy know-how to manage a few hilarious good deeds. Blabey has hit the proverbial nail on the head, kissed it full on the mouth, and handed it a stick of Acme dynamite. With illustrations that startle in their manic comedy and deadpan direct address and with a narrative that follows four endearingly sardonic characters trying to push past (sometimes successfully) their fear-causing natures, this book instantly joins the classic ranks of Captain Underpants and The Stinky Cheese Man.
We challenge anyone to read this and keep a straight face. (Fiction. 7-11)Pub Date: Jan. 3, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-545-91240-2
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 18, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A welcome, well-researched reflection of cultural pride in the early-reader landscape.
The fourth installment in Delacre’s early-reader series centers on the rich musical traditions of Puerto Rico, once again featuring sibling tree frogs Rafi and Rosi Coquí.
Readers learn along with Rafi and Rosi as they explore bomba, plena, and salsa in three chapters. A glossary at the beginning sets readers up well to understand the Spanish vocabulary, including accurate phoneticization for non-Spanish speakers. The stories focus on Rafi and Rosi’s relationship within a musical context. For example, in one chapter Rafi finds out that he attracts a larger audience playing his homemade güiro with Rosi’s help even though he initially excluded her: “Big brothers only.” Even when he makes mistakes, as the older brother, Rafi consoles Rosi when she is embarrassed or angry at him. In each instance, their shared joy for music and dance ultimately shines through any upsets—a valuable reflection of unity. Informational backmatter and author’s sources are extensive. Undoubtedly these will help teachers, librarians, and parents to develop Puerto Rican cultural programs, curriculum, or home activities to extend young readers’ learning. The inclusion of instructions to make one’s own homemade güiro is a thoughtful addition. The Spanish translation, also by Delacre and published simultaneously, will require a more advanced reader than the English one to recognize and comprehend contractions (“pa’bajo-pa-pa’rriba”) and relatively sophisticated vocabulary.
A welcome, well-researched reflection of cultural pride in the early-reader landscape. (Early reader. 7-9)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-89239-429-6
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Children's Book Press
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
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