A quietly enchanting story to share right before naptime or bed to remind young children of the safety and comfort of the...
Moons and rabbits have a long history of sharing stories—witness the U.S. classic Goodnight Moon or folktales from China, Japan, and Korea.
In this new bedtime story by a well-known Turkish writer/illustrator, the moon and a rabbit enter into a friendly relationship. In luminous watercolor scenes, with deep blue skies and twinkling stars, the moon travels down to Earth one night when soft, white Little Bunny wakes, hungry, but is afraid to venture far from his bed. Starting as a crescent, the moon lights the way for the pair to find luscious berries. Each night, as the moon grows fuller, the two explore the local countryside. A tape measure artfully demarcates the white text of one page from a border showing the moon phases. Finally, when the moon is full, the prescient orb guesses Little Bunny’s wish. “Perhaps you should wish to climb up into the sky and touch the stars?” After a beautiful, wordless, double-page, full-bleed spread of the full moon and Little Bunny staring up at a shooting star in an endless night sky, the friends proceed to do just that. “The stars are delighted to meet Little Bunny. Together they dance across the sky.”
A quietly enchanting story to share right before naptime or bed to remind young children of the safety and comfort of the light that shines down upon the Earth at night. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-988-8341-76-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: minedition
Review Posted Online: Feb. 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2019
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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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