Polar Express it ain’t. Skip.
A Polar Express–esque Halloween train ride tailored to Texans.
While out trick-or-treating, the first-person narrator (a pirate in bandanna and eyepatch) and their best friend (a blond-bobbed superhero) are startled when a train on misty tracks descends from the sky. They board for a ride on the Spooky Express. The other passengers include a mummy, a ghost, Frankenstein’s monster, a giant spider, a dragon, and a witch. Once on the train, it’s never clear where the train is going, though several Texas cities and sites are mentioned in the rhyming verses, a subway-line–like map is on the wall (those cities aren’t visited, though), and several Texas landmarks can be spotted through the windows. Ultimately, the two children must save the whole train when the engineer’s head, a pumpkin in which he keeps his brain, falls off his shoulders and must be recovered from Sam Houston Park. Then, it’s back home again. While the rhymes are no great shakes, they do scan well, save one verse that rhymes train with again. Piwowarski’s illustrations use green, purple, and orange to play up the Halloween theme, and there is nothing too frightening for young readers. Both children appear to be white, as do all other human and humanoid characters with one exception. A map of the state is sadly lacking. This Texas edition is one of 78 in the series, covering the 50 states, 18 U.S. and four Canadian cities, and two provinces, among other locales.
Polar Express it ain’t. Skip. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4926-5314-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
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