It is Baby Bear’s birthday, and Mr. Wolf (Mr. Wolf and the Pancakes, 2000) and Grandma are preparing a fine birthday party. But they know that the Three Bears are proud eaters, so they have a lot of work to do. In this new spin on classic characters, the Wolves throw together Huff Puff Cakes and stacks of sandwiches and a great big birthday cake, and then toil like demons to spiff up the house. And then who should barge through the door along with the guests of honor, but Goldilocks, the most horrific creature the woods has to offer. “ ‘What have you brought her for?’ whispered Mr. Wolf.” “There was nothing we could do,” answers Daddy Bear, noting that Goldilocks said she was invited, the little fibber. She proceeds to ruin the party, incongruously and pleasingly caught in Fearnley’s delicate and oh-so-amusing watercolors: A bad girl making mischief, snatching at all the food, ruining the games. Then Grandma Wolf suggests a game of hide-and-seek, asking that nobody go into the kitchen, which is of course directly where Goldilocks heads—and disappears. Not long thereafter, Grandma emerges with a great-looking pie: “You never know what you’ll find in the kitchen,” she says. Predictable as it turns the old standard on its head, nonetheless Goldilocks is so loathsome, and likely so recognizable, that when she gets her just deserts—offstage left, out of reader’s sight—it feels like all is right in the world. Recipes include Baby Bear’s Birthday Cake, Mommy Bear’s Sandwiches, as well as Grandma’s Golden Pie (filling of choice). If Mr. Wolf isn’t careful, he’s going to run out of fairytale characters to eat. (Picture book. 3-7)
Pub Date: April 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-15-216423-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2002
This bunny escapes all the traps but fails to find a logical plot or an emotional connection with readers.
The bestselling series (How to Catch an Elf, 2016, etc.) about capturing mythical creatures continues with a story about various ways to catch the Easter Bunny as it makes its annual deliveries.
The bunny narrates its own story in rhyming text, beginning with an introduction at its office in a manufacturing facility that creates Easter eggs and candy. The rabbit then abruptly takes off on its delivery route with a tiny basket of eggs strapped to its back, immediately encountering a trap with carrots and a box propped up with a stick. The narrative focuses on how the Easter Bunny avoids increasingly complex traps set up to catch him with no explanation as to who has set the traps or why. These traps include an underground tunnel, a fluorescent dance floor with a hidden pit of carrots, a robot bunny, pirates on an island, and a cannon that shoots candy fish, as well as some sort of locked, hazardous site with radiation danger. Readers of previous books in the series will understand the premise, but others will be confused by the rabbit’s frenetic escapades. Cartoon-style illustrations have a 1960s vibe, with a slightly scary, bow-tied bunny with chartreuse eyes and a glowing palette of neon shades that shout for attention.
This bunny escapes all the traps but fails to find a logical plot or an emotional connection with readers. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4926-3817-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Jan. 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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