by Gabby Dawnay ; illustrated by Alex Barrow ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 11, 2014
This understated British romp will have readers absorbed in its details.
Dawney and Barrow here offer the tale of a little boy who navigates the streets of 1940s London to visit the possums at the zoo.
A bit reminiscent of Madeline (1939) with its rhyming text, recognizable metropolitan landmarks and purposeful youngster wearing a hat that trails ribbons, this follows Samuel and his “dog-on-wheels” through a bustling cityscape. Urban diversity is captured through varying skin tones, hairstyles and fashion choices. While the poetry scans smoothly, the first half of the book merely describes what the eye can see: “They pass the man who sells balloons, / they pass the band that’s playing tunes.” A pleasing narrative symmetry, however, becomes evident midway through. To the left of the gutter, five baby possums are sleeping, tails wrapped round the branch above; on the right, their eyes open and watch Sam depart. The rest of the story mirrors the beginning, except that the five possums join tail to tail with the toy dog Sam is dragging. While the boy is oblivious to his parade, the passersby, palace guards and street vendors are riveted; the humor derives from the onlookers’ distracted mishaps and the text/image contrast. The balloons play a part in the animals’ return to the zoo, but a surprise awaits the child at home. Cream-colored, matte backgrounds offer a restful backdrop for the tale’s colorful cacophony.
This understated British romp will have readers absorbed in its details. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Nov. 11, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-84976-221-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Tate/Abrams
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2014
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by Peter Brown ; illustrated by Peter Brown ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 24, 2025
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
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New York Times Bestseller
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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by Carin Bramsen & illustrated by Carin Bramsen ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 22, 2013
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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