A charmer that reminds readers to cultivate simple pleasures, recognize life’s commonplace gifts, and enjoy a little cake.
On regular days, two pals find reasons to celebrate.
Audrey, a little White girl, likes birthdays; but it isn’t hers. Not to worry; her outsize but eminently benign friend Lion is celebrating Tuesdays and coconuts, and she likes Thursdays, so they’ll just celebrate those. Lion is a masterful party host, producing luscious coconut-frosted cakes. On another occasion, Lion is celebrating orange and yellow; Audrey likes purple, so the pair have fun making streamers and a jaunty party hat in those three colors. One day, a forlorn Lion doesn’t have anything to celebrate because “today is just an ordinary day.” Now it’s Audrey’s turn to spread some cheer. She plans a celebration in honor of ordinary days, monkeys (Lion likes them), and lions. The duo play with confetti, then enjoy a game of “monkeys and lions,” followed by hide-and-seek, before striking up some music on toy instruments. Wyatt’s text shows an appreciation of both the drollness and profundity of children’s thinking, and the story’s message about appreciating the little, everyday things is welcome and timely. Children may be inspired to re-create Audrey and Lion’s music jamboree, make confetti poppers, and paint pictures for their own guests of honor. Ainslie’s illustrations, rendered in pencil and gentle watercolors, are airy and sweet, communicating a sense of childlike joy and lightsomeness.
A charmer that reminds readers to cultivate simple pleasures, recognize life’s commonplace gifts, and enjoy a little cake. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Jan. 4, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5362-1781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2022
PERSPECTIVES
Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
It’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how many mediocre sequels you can squeeze out of Seussian property.
Since a reformed Grinch is hardly any fun, this follow-up Grinches him up once more.
Those seeking more of the same, prepare to receive precisely that. Christmas is coming (again!), and the Grinch can hardly wait. He’s been patient all year, and now he can finally show the Whos down in Who-ville how much he’s changed. When the Grinch learns of a tree-decorating contest, he figures that if he wins, it’ll prove he truly has the Christmas spirit. He throws himself into the task, but when it comes time to judge the trees, the Grinch is horrified to discover that he’s received only the second-place trophy. Can Cindy-Lou Who find the words to save the day? Replicating many of the original beats and wordplay of the original, this tale feels like less a sequel and more like a vaguely rewritten variation. Meanwhile, Ruiz’s art seeks to bridge the gap between the animated Chuck Jones version of the Grinch and the one depicted in the original book. This thankless task results in a strange uncanny valley between Seuss and Jones but does allow the artist a chance to colorize everything and lend some racial diversity to the Who population (Cindy-Lou is light-skinned). (This book was reviewed digitally.)
It’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how many mediocre sequels you can squeeze out of Seussian property. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9780593563168
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2023
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