Klutzy translation aside, most of Andersen’s literary flourishes are left intact, and they are nicely complemented by both...
A lightly abridged, lushly illustrated version of Andersen’s satirical tale, with diversions aplenty for tap-happy audiences and a text in serious need of further copy editing.
A pair of wish-granting galoshes is left in a cloakroom during a party by two elegantly dressed fairies. They in turn transport a Danish councilor (or, depending on the sentence, “counselor,” “councillor,” “counselour” or “counsilor”) to the unpaved—“What a mud! It is just the horror!”—Middle Ages, a watchman to the Moon and an “interne” into the dizzying hearts of a row of theatergoers. Later, a clerk is transformed into an unsuccessful playwright, and after a hellacious night as a tourist in Italy, a student temporarily dies. In the end the galoshes have “dissapeared” with one of the fairies. Along with hearts and leaves that drift over pages of text, tap-responsive details in the expertly painted illustrations range from a dramatic falling star and lights that can be switched on or off to a broad array of chirps, chuckles and exclamations. The text is available in English or Russian, and though there is no professional narration, parents are urged in an introductory note to use the self-record feature.
Klutzy translation aside, most of Andersen’s literary flourishes are left intact, and they are nicely complemented by both the visuals and the interactive elements. (iPad storybook app. 8-11)Pub Date: Aug. 7, 2012
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Intelligent Art Team
Review Posted Online: Oct. 2, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2012
Told from the point of view of two warring siblings, this could have been an engaging first chapter book. Unfortunately, the length makes it less likely to appeal to the intended audience. Jessie and Evan are usually good friends as well as sister and brother. But the news that bright Jessie will be skipping a grade to join Evan’s fourth-grade class creates tension. Evan believes himself to be less than clever; Jessie’s emotional maturity doesn’t quite measure up to her intelligence. Rivalry and misunderstandings grow as the two compete to earn the most money in the waning days of summer. The plot rolls along smoothly and readers will be able to both follow the action and feel superior to both main characters as their motivations and misconceptions are clearly displayed. Indeed, a bit more subtlety in characterization might have strengthened the book’s appeal. The final resolution is not entirely believable, but the emphasis on cooperation and understanding is clear. Earnest and potentially successful, but just misses the mark. (Fiction. 8-10)
Pub Date: April 23, 2007
ISBN: 0-618-75043-6
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2007
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Dizzyingly silly.
The famous superhero returns to fight another villain with all the trademark wit and humor the series is known for.
Despite the title, Captain Underpants is bizarrely absent from most of this adventure. His school-age companions, George and Harold, maintain most of the spotlight. The creative chums fool around with time travel and several wacky inventions before coming upon the evil Turbo Toilet 2000, making its return for vengeance after sitting out a few of the previous books. When the good Captain shows up to save the day, he brings with him dynamic action and wordplay that meet the series’ standards. The Captain Underpants saga maintains its charm even into this, the 11th volume. The epic is filled to the brim with sight gags, toilet humor, flip-o-ramas and anarchic glee. Holding all this nonsense together is the author’s good-natured sense of harmless fun. The humor is never gross or over-the-top, just loud and innocuous. Adults may roll their eyes here and there, but youngsters will eat this up just as quickly as they devoured every other Underpants episode.
Dizzyingly silly. (Humor. 8-10)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-545-50490-4
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2014
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