Book need grammar.
A bear makes a den a home.
Written in what might be described as stereotypical caveman speech, the halting, sparse text describes an anthropomorphic bear’s ongoing efforts to set up housekeeping. At first the bear’s alone in a barren den dug out of a hillside, having presumably followed instructions from a book entitled How Make Den. Initially satisfied with the cave, the bear soon realizes that the “den need…” many things. Quite the handy-bear, ideas and tools help produce furniture and, later, food, because all the hard work leads to a rumbling tummy: “Bear need…cake!” Satiated but bored, the bear decides, “Den need… / game.” Ultimately, all of the steps toward making the den a home make the bear want to share it with others, so “DEN NEED BEARS!” and attracts a bevy of ursine friends to make merry at book’s end. Joyner’s ink drawings with digital color are appealing in their humorous depictions of the industrious, jovial protagonist bear, and their achievement ultimately outshines the text. It’s one thing to have a spare text but quite another to have one that doesn’t seem to have a reason for its unorthodox, halting phrasing.
Book need grammar. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-7636-9061-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2017
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say.
A dog-loving child encourages a less-than-enthusiastic younger one to imagine they’re both canines.
From the first declaration—“I’d be a big dog! And you’d be a little one!”—readers know who’s calling the shots. Initially, the protagonists cavort off the page and through the neighborhood together, performing doggy capers such as tail wagging, stick carrying, and dirt digging. But by the time they encounter a multitude of like-minded creatures at the dog park, the disgruntled small pup is exhibiting out-and-out rebellion: “Being a dog is YOUR idea! Sometimes I HAVE IDEAS TOO!” The narrative wraps up with the younger child pretending to be a different animal entirely—cleverly foreshadowed through subtle details in the illustrations. Even the endpapers—lively silhouettes of dogs in the beginning and many different animals in closing—extend the theme to suggest the imaginative possibilities of pretend play. Cheerful, lightly hued colors fit the whimsical mood, while expressive body language allows the art to tell the story with a minimum of words. Ending on a surprising note, with a sweet compromise between the two main characters, the tale gives both kids the freedom to embrace their own preferences and styles—while still enjoying their game.
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9780316581721
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
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