The value of art comes through loud and clear in this enjoyable, interactive musical tale. (iPad storybook app. 4-8)
A little boy helps his community remember that music is of extreme importance.
In this installment of its Living Stories series, German gaming giant Ravensburger Digital establishes itself as a credible player in the storybook-app world. All things considered, they’ve covered most of their bases in terms of what goes into a respectable digital reading experience. The illustrations are interesting and appealing enough, and navigation is reliable and incredibly well-designed. A drop-down scroll menu offers a page index, interactive clues and the ability to turn each screen into a puzzle. The story itself is decent, though it could be a tad less reductionist. Symphonia is a land of song until a cruel judge bans music to boost productivity. As a result, a culturewide depression ensues until a little boy wanders through the streets playing his violin. Musicians appear, the judge and his Big Brother–like guards conveniently leave, and music prevails. There are several outstanding interactive features here, most notably a nighttime star scene in which readers can fill out a melody loop with full chords. Another screen offers a delightful opportunity to add or subtract various musical, vocal and percussive tracks to create a personalized “orchestral” experience. Text and narration are available in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish.
The value of art comes through loud and clear in this enjoyable, interactive musical tale. (iPad storybook app. 4-8)Pub Date: July 24, 2013
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Ravensburger Digital
Review Posted Online: Sept. 17, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2013
Continuing to find inspiration in the work of Virginia Lee Burton, Munro Leaf and other illustrators of the past, Long (The Little Engine That Could, 2005) offers an aw-shucks friendship tale that features a small but hardworking tractor (“putt puff puttedy chuff”) with a Little Toot–style face and a big-eared young descendant of Ferdinand the bull who gets stuck in deep, gooey mud. After the big new yellow tractor, crowds of overalls-clad locals and a red fire engine all fail to pull her out, the little tractor (who had been left behind the barn to rust after the arrival of the new tractor) comes putt-puff-puttedy-chuff-ing down the hill to entice his terrified bovine buddy successfully back to dry ground. Short on internal logic but long on creamy scenes of calf and tractor either gamboling energetically with a gaggle of McCloskey-like geese through neutral-toned fields or resting peacefully in the shade of a gnarled tree (apple, not cork), the episode will certainly draw nostalgic adults. Considering the author’s track record and influences, it may find a welcome from younger audiences too. (Picture book. 5-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-399-25248-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2009
SEEN & HEARD
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
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