In a sea of hibernation titles, this one’s worth staying awake for.
One little woodland creature fights for his right to party.
If there’s one thing children can identify with, it’s animals uninterested in going to bed. It’s winter, and Badger is full of plans. Unfortunately, it’s hard to put those ideas into practice when everyone else is tucked into bed. After visiting Bear, Marmot, and Nighthawk, Badger attempts to amuse himself, but “clearly being alone isn’t his thing.” It isn’t until the bats tell him to “go and play with the birds” that he realizes that he’s not the only one up this winter. The birds, foxes, rabbits, and more are happy to party and have a wonderful time. And when Badger’s other friends do emerge in the spring, little wonder that it’s Badger’s turn to fall asleep. Backmatter distinguishes between torpor and hibernation, and an additional factual section offers guidance on helping animals during the winter. Meanwhile, front endpapers feature illustrations of “animals that sleep a lot in winter,” while the back endpapers list animals that don’t. The soft ink, gouache, and watercolor renderings of Badger and friends give the story a gentle, identifiable hero for whom bedtime is in no way a necessity. Translated from French, this tale will pair well alongside nonfiction picture books on similar subjects, such as Summertime Sleepers by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Sarah Brannen.
In a sea of hibernation titles, this one’s worth staying awake for. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2024
ISBN: 9780802856272
Page Count: 52
Publisher: Eerdmans
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2024
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school...
The familiar theme of the challenges facing a new kid in town is given an original treatment by photographer Border in this book of photos of three-dimensional objects in a simple modeled landscape.
Peanut Butter is represented by a slice of white bread spread with the popular condiment. The other characters in the story—a hamburger with a pair of hot dogs in tow, a bowl of alphabet soup, a meatball jumping a rope of spaghetti, a carton of French fries and a pink cupcake—are represented by skillfully crafted models of these foods, anthropomorphized using simple wire construction. Rejected by each character in turn in his search for playmates, Peanut Butter discovers in the end that Jelly is his true match (not Cupcake, as the title suggests), perhaps because she is the only one who looks like him, being a slice of white bread spread with jelly. The friendly foods end up happily playing soccer together. Some parents may have trouble with the unabashedly happy depiction of carbs and American junk food (no carrots or celery sticks in this landscape), and others may find themselves troubled by the implication that friendship across difference is impossible.
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school experiences. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: July 29, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-399-16773-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2014
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
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