A wintry, holiday read much like a gingerbread house: slightly slanted but poignant, sweet, soul-warming and studded with...
Bear, a postman, has never, ever received a letter of his own, and he wants one desperately.
Trudging through his quotidian postal duties, Bear’s burly mass, bulky head and pea-sized eyes lean into the Arctic cold; later, at home he cooks soup and pictures envelopes marked with his name. Sound like a big, bearish bummer? Luckily, Lucas’ simple, velvety lines run on with many “and”s in the hushed, low octaves of a fireside story. Jolly, jagged artwork keeps readers attentive and hopeful. Immensely intricate geometric illustrations (miniature diamonds, lunettes, triangles and squares patterned in oranges, pinks and rusty reds), overlapping panels, interrupted borders and head-tilting angles define Bear’s frosty world. Exploring this tilted landscape of icy evergreens, pointy mountains, twiggy branches, spiky stars and snowflakes will thrill sharp, darting eyes. A flat, matte presentation smooths and softens these stimulating spreads, while circular inset images serve as tender peepholes into Bear’s loneliness. When his letters become smudged, Bear must knock on doors and finally meet his neighbors, all delighted by his hand delivery. A “snowstorm” of Christmas party invitations follows, from Bear to these friendly new acquaintances, and he crosses fingers they show up. They do. And guess what ursine host receives a mailbag of thank-you notes?
A wintry, holiday read much like a gingerbread house: slightly slanted but poignant, sweet, soul-warming and studded with delicious details that warrant close inspection. (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: Nov. 12, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-909263-13-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2013
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
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
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