A charming, energetic attention-grabber—but one that probably shouldn’t be read before bedtime.
Everything winds down at nighttime, right? Guess again.
Some creatures rouse when others snooze. This lively book, narrated in concise, rich prose, kicks off with animals who, by night, propel a voracious food chain. The chain starts with microscopic organisms and grows as increasingly larger beings prey upon smaller, weaker creatures in turn—and concludes in a full-page spread with a fierce-looking, stylized tiger reigning victorious atop the chain, depicted with prey floating within a cutaway shot of its abdomen. But, as readers discover when a young tiger-costumed child and their pajama-clad sibling appear on the pages following that scene, this book isn’t about nocturnal animals’ dining habits. It’s really about what children desire as night falls—to assert dominance over sleep, i.e., to cajole parents into extra romps and snuggles before bed. Youngsters will easily relate to that notion and will be captivated by the energetic, fanciful illustrations—created with gouache, watercolor, ink, colored pencil, and oil pastel—that explode in a dazzling array of colors as the creatures devour each other. The text plays with fonts, incorporating imaginative type settings throughout, enhancing visual interest. However, the juxtaposition between the dynamic scenes portraying the nighttime feeding frenzy and those depicting the children’s rambunctious sleep-delaying tactics might prove jarring, though the tiger is shown finally settling down, too. The family is tan-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A charming, energetic attention-grabber—but one that probably shouldn’t be read before bedtime. (facts about the animals named in the book) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 28, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-37429-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House Studio
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
A tender book to help little ones make sense of the emotions around prayer.
Actor Metz and songwriter Collins join illustrator Fields in their second faith-related title for young children.
Instead of focusing on the language of prayer—what to say or how to say it—this book explores a topic central to the lives of the very young: their feelings around talking to God. Rhymes and near-rhymes in the AABB verses enumerate the simple challenges and triumphs experienced by a series of animals: “Sometimes I’m sad, not sure what to do. / There are days I feel teary, unhappy, or blue. / I fell off a log. I’m embarrassed and hurt. / My coat and paws are all covered in dirt.” An accompanying illustration depicts a sad wolf pup, a definite contrast to its siblings, who are delighting in their play. The highlight of the book is Fields’ animal characters. Whether happy, nervous, or sad, their expressive faces are easy to read, and their feelings will be familiar to young tots. The beaver’s frustration is palpable, and the tears in the scared raccoon’s eyes may just make readers’ own eyes well up. Some of the animals have a God stand-in to help them with their feelings—a friend or family member—but the final spread shows all the individual animals coming together in a couple of group hugs that express where children can find support (and sweetly defy predator–prey relationships).
A tender book to help little ones make sense of the emotions around prayer. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 4, 2025
ISBN: 9780593691366
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together.
A clueless duckling tries to make a new friend.
He is confused by this peculiar-looking duck, who has a long tail, doesn’t waddle and likes to be alone. No matter how explicitly the creature denies he is a duck and announces that he is a cat, the duckling refuses to acknowledge the facts. When this creature expresses complete lack of interest in playing puddle stomp, the little ducking goes off and plays on his own. But the cat is not without remorse for rejecting an offered friendship. Of course it all ends happily, with the two new friends enjoying each other’s company. Bramsen employs brief sentences and the simplest of rhymes to tell this slight tale. The two heroes are meticulously drawn with endearing, expressive faces and body language, and their feathers and fur appear textured and touchable. Even the detailed tree bark and grass seem three-dimensional. There are single- and double-page spreads, panels surrounded by white space and circular and oval frames, all in a variety of eye-pleasing juxtapositions. While the initial appeal is solidly visual, young readers will get the gentle message that friendship is not something to take for granted but is to be embraced with open arms—or paws and webbed feet.
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-375-86990-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 13, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2012
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