Thin stuff; for a satisfying love story aimed at the preschool set, seek out Robert Munsch’s aforementioned classic.
The odd couple gets a visit from a lady pug who is immediately smitten with Pug, aka Wonder Pug, at least according to Chick’s boasts.
The real crush seems to be on Daisy, and it’s not Pug who is so impressed with her feminine charms. Chick practically trips over himself to brag about how magnificent Pug is. Daisy is determined to have the uninterested Pug prove he’s really a knight in shining armor who will give her flowers, find her lost bow, and protect her from the evil, menacing shadow that is following her. And Chick does all in his power to play up Pug’s efforts, which really amount to snoring, rolling over, and simply standing up. While silly Chick is impressed, Daisy certainly is not. But in a twist reminiscent of The Paper Bag Princess, Daisy rescues Pug when a bee flies into his mouth. And finally, all three are ready for the nap that Pug has been working on the whole time. “After all, sometimes love makes you sleepy.” Sattler’s Chick is a bundle of energy, with cool shades, a magazine to read, and plenty of imagination, while Pug, as usual, is a lump who only wants to sleep, his eyes rarely fully open. Unfortunately, in their fourth outing, the pals’ shtick is losing its steam—how often can one laugh at Chick’s foolishness and Pug’s torpor?
Thin stuff; for a satisfying love story aimed at the preschool set, seek out Robert Munsch’s aforementioned classic. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-6196-3672-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Sept. 20, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A tender book to help little ones make sense of the emotions around prayer.
Actor Metz and songwriter Collins join illustrator Fields in their second faith-related title for young children.
Instead of focusing on the language of prayer—what to say or how to say it—this book explores a topic central to the lives of the very young: their feelings around talking to God. Rhymes and near-rhymes in the AABB verses enumerate the simple challenges and triumphs experienced by a series of animals: “Sometimes I’m sad, not sure what to do. / There are days I feel teary, unhappy, or blue. / I fell off a log. I’m embarrassed and hurt. / My coat and paws are all covered in dirt.” An accompanying illustration depicts a sad wolf pup, a definite contrast to its siblings, who are delighting in their play. The highlight of the book is Fields’ animal characters. Whether happy, nervous, or sad, their expressive faces are easy to read, and their feelings will be familiar to young tots. The beaver’s frustration is palpable, and the tears in the scared raccoon’s eyes may just make readers’ own eyes well up. Some of the animals have a God stand-in to help them with their feelings—a friend or family member—but the final spread shows all the individual animals coming together in a couple of group hugs that express where children can find support (and sweetly defy predator–prey relationships).
A tender book to help little ones make sense of the emotions around prayer. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 4, 2025
ISBN: 9780593691366
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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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