A free-wheeling tale about the first monkey in space who returns home a hero and turns his fame into industry. He manufactures strange little objects that are so popular that he plans to put the millionth one in a museum. A miscalculation puts the millionth in the path of a homeless bug named Penelope; she can't lift it, but a helpful man named Quincy takes it home and accidently aims the television remote control at it. It opens to reveal a room just the right size for Penelope. The monkey, in the meantime, discovers his mistake and goes in search of the millionth little object. There's a happy ending, the setting is postindustrial, the characters are outlandish, and Penelope is just lovely. The plot unfolds in computer-generated illustrations (the same medium Seibold used in Mr. Lunch Borrows a Canoe, 1994, not reviewed, etc.) that are completely wacky. They never stray too far from the red/yellow/brown part of the color spectrum, showing figures, faces, and postures that are screwball and upbeat. The compositions are chaotically cluttered with words, signs, and diagrams—and no shortage of visual jokes. Flawless three-dimensional shading has been harnessed to a perspective that looks as if it has been turned inside out and on its head. This may sound unreadable, but it's not; the presentation is crisp and clear, and the result is unbridled fun. (Picture book. 3-8)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1995
ISBN: 0-670-86393-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1995
A book that will make young dog-owners smile in recognition and confirm dogless readers' worst suspicions about the mayhem caused by pets, even winsome ones. Sam, who bears passing resemblance to an affable golden retriever, is praised for fetching the family newspaper, and goes on to fetch every other newspaper on the block. In the next story, only the children love Sam's swimming; he is yelled at by lifeguards and fishermen alike when he splashes through every watering hole he can find. Finally, there is woe to the entire family when Sam is bored and lonely for one long night. Boland has an essential message, captured in both both story and illustrations of this Easy-to-Read: Kids and dogs belong together, especially when it's a fun-loving canine like Sam. An appealing tale. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 1996
ISBN: 0-8037-1530-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1996
This should send Dark Knight fans flying to the Batcave—or the bedroom.
Holy bedtime, Batman!
In a sleepy-looking neighborhood under a dusky cerulean sky, a young, brown-haired, white boy goes through the motions of getting ready for bed: he brushes his teeth, takes a bath, picks up his toys, and feeds his fish. In a parallel visual narrative, beckoned by the cat's-eye–yellow bat-signal, Batman keeps Gotham safe for another night by catching crooks, locking them away, and avenging those who have been wronged. Though the two characters are quite different, through a carefully flexible narrative, Dahl and Beavers weave a convincing tale of just how similar they might be. “It’s time to take care of business” describes the child’s trip to the potty and Batman’s dive down a manhole equally well, for instance. Beavers' art is visually striking and vibrantly hued, perfect for keeping young eyes glued to each page. Dahl's economical text is cadenced with a gentle lilt, just right for a bedtime read-aloud. Young fans of the caped crusader will delight in spying their favorite characters. In the already-overstuffed bedtime-book market, this is certainly a niche read, but it hits its mark well, delivering fun without darkness. A “bedtime checklist” at the end aptly includes “story time.”
This should send Dark Knight fans flying to the Batcave—or the bedroom. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-62370-732-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
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