Other fractured versions are funnier, while many straightforward versions are far more beautiful; opt for them.
An extra-large take on the classic fairy tale.
The Warty Sisters, Cinderelephant’s warthog cousins, work the poor elephant mercilessly—in the first illustration, she has a pot handle in one hand and a mop in the other, and there’s an iron at the end of her trunk—and leave her sad and lonely when they depart for Prince Trunky’s ball. But a swish of her Furry Godmouse’s tail instantly transforms Cinderelephant’s clothes and makes a limo appear. Of course, she becomes the belle of the ball, as Prince Trunky is afraid of squashing the other, smaller guests. Indeed, synonyms for “large” dot the text. Some wordplay will go right over readers’ heads: “Cinder-irrelevant!” But other instances will be in tune with a kid’s sense of humor, as when the Furry Godmouse tells Cinderelephant to have a good time, but, “and it’s a big but.” This is juxtaposed with an illustration of Cinderelephant’s huge derrière as she bends down to get into the white stretch limo. Unfortunately, though, while the illustrations have moments of humor, they don’t otherwise stand out; despite Dodd’s oversized subject, the details often get lost in the digital artwork, and the sparkly cover, while it may attract readers, isn’t enough to keep them coming back. And why, with all the possibilities available to her, does Dodd limit herself to names so unfunny and -punny?
Other fractured versions are funnier, while many straightforward versions are far more beautiful; opt for them. (Fractured fairy tale. 4-7)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-545-53285-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Levine/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 30, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2013
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
Hee haw.
The print version of a knee-slapping cumulative ditty.
In the song, Smith meets a donkey on the road. It is three-legged, and so a “wonky donkey” that, on further examination, has but one eye and so is a “winky wonky donkey” with a taste for country music and therefore a “honky-tonky winky wonky donkey,” and so on to a final characterization as a “spunky hanky-panky cranky stinky-dinky lanky honky-tonky winky wonky donkey.” A free musical recording (of this version, anyway—the author’s website hints at an adults-only version of the song) is available from the publisher and elsewhere online. Even though the book has no included soundtrack, the sly, high-spirited, eye patch–sporting donkey that grins, winks, farts, and clumps its way through the song on a prosthetic metal hoof in Cowley’s informal watercolors supplies comical visual flourishes for the silly wordplay. Look for ready guffaws from young audiences, whether read or sung, though those attuned to disability stereotypes may find themselves wincing instead or as well.
Hee haw. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: May 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-545-26124-1
Page Count: 26
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Dec. 28, 2018
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