Troubling.
In the opening scene, anthropomorphic rabbits enjoy a multigenerational picnic on a large blanket; a lawn, more family members, and a two-story house are behind them. A white-furred, doe-eyed bunny with a sketchbook introduces herself as Lily, mentioning that her family lives “in the big house at the end of the lane.” The story continues with a nicely rendered watercolor of Lily sitting far above a harbor and city skyline; Lily mentions Grandma’s assertion that their house is “old and steady as mountains.” Although the text initially exudes a bit of gentle humor, as the tale continues, both text and art grow increasingly dark and fraught with angst. Even Lily’s dreams offer her no respite from the completed highway project, and the once-happy family becomes dysfunctional from the stress. Lily braves new, horrifying traffic to rescue a last remaining flower. Then her dreams abruptly change from troubled to confident; she apparently figures out how to save the day, and the final double-page spread depicts the house on a raft, a tugboat towing it to, presumably, a more salubrious setting. Despite obvious thematic resemblance to Virginia Lee Burton’s classic The Little House, this outing offers none of its serenity, instead placing the burden of rescuing this family on Lily’s shoulders. The Hail Mary conclusion is so unbelievable it will likely bring little comfort to young readers.
Troubling. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: March 15, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-77147-380-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021
A retro-futuristic romp, literally and figuratively screwy.
Robo-parents Diode and Lugnut present daughter Cathode with a new little brother—who requires, unfortunately, some assembly.
Arriving in pieces from some mechanistic version of Ikea, little Flange turns out to be a cute but complicated tyke who immediately falls apart…and then rockets uncontrollably about the room after an overconfident uncle tinkers with his basic design. As a squad of helpline techies and bevies of neighbors bearing sludge cake and like treats roll in, the cluttered and increasingly crowded scene deteriorates into madcap chaos—until at last Cath, with help from Roomba-like robodog Sprocket, stages an intervention by whisking the hapless new arrival off to a backyard workshop for a proper assembly and software update. “You’re such a good big sister!” warbles her frazzled mom. Wiesner’s robots display his characteristic clean lines and even hues but endearingly look like vaguely anthropomorphic piles of random jet-engine parts and old vacuum cleaners loosely connected by joints of armored cable. They roll hither and thither through neatly squared-off panels and pages in infectiously comical dismay. Even the end’s domestic tranquility lasts only until Cathode spots the little box buried in the bigger one’s packing material: “TWINS!” (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-22-inch double-page spreads viewed at 52% of actual size.)
A retro-futuristic romp, literally and figuratively screwy. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-544-98731-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2020
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind.
The cool beans again step up to do a timorous fellow legume a fava…this time at the pool.
Will a rash decision to tackle the multistory super-slide lead to another embarrassing watery fail for our shy protagonist? Nope, for up the stairs right behind comes a trio of cool beans, each a different type and color, all clad in nothing but dark shades. They make an offer: “It’s not as scary if you go with friends!” As the knobby nerd explains once the thrilling ride down is done, “They all realized that I just needed some encouragement and support.” Just to make sure that both cool and uncool readers get the message, the narrator lets us know that “there are plenty of kind folks who have my back. They’re always there when I need them.” The beany bonhomie doesn’t end at the bottom of the slide, with all gliding down to the shallow end of the pool (“3 INCHES. NO DIVING”) for a splashy finale. This latest early reader starring characters from John and Oswald’s immensely popular Food Group series will be a hit with fans. Fun accessories, such as a bean who rocks pink cat-eye frames, add some pizzazz to the chromatically and somatotypically varied cast.
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind. (Easy reader. 5-7)Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9780063329560
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
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