An enjoyable take on a nocturnal, urban animal’s habits in an accessible story that, with illustrations in better sync,...
Rascally raccoons plunder and play in the night without consequence in Wright’s (The Secret Circus, 2009) latest work.
At sunset, the masked marauders—shifty-eyed and mischievous—tiptoe toward town. As the sky darkens, they boldly gather booty and make the local hot tub their washroom. Caught by flashlight, the nocturnal crooks escape to picnic and party elsewhere. Paint and black pen on canvas are Wright’s media of choice. There are no hard edges to her artwork, and paint is often applied in such a way that it allows the raw texture of the canvas underneath to be seen or appears as strokes of solid color. Very simple figures describe both humans and raccoons, which have stylized, stick-figure appendages. Everything in Wright’s compositions is equally detailed, whether in the foreground or background, creating a flattened effect. The text itself is short and playful but, strangely, at times does not match the illustrations, particularly at the story’s climax, when the pranksters make “their greatest escape.” In the artwork, the raccoons seem far from trouble; indeed, they are casually packing up their evening’s picnic. The author, however, does pay close attention to the passage of time, clearly delineating day, dusk and night, making it a good title to discuss the different parts of the evening with young readers.
An enjoyable take on a nocturnal, urban animal’s habits in an accessible story that, with illustrations in better sync, might have resulted in a refreshing outcome. Unfortunately, the result here is pedestrian . (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Aug. 16, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59643-583-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Neal Porter/Roaring Brook
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An upbeat Easter outing with a beloved character.
Pookie celebrates Easter with a play date and holiday activities.
Pookie’s friend Bean, a gray puppy, comes over for Easter fun that includes lots of bouncing around and egg decorating. After Bean goes home, Pookie gets excited about the Easter Bunny’s arrival and goes to sleep dreaming of a large chocolate egg. Like the other Pookie books before it, this one is told in rhyme from the perspective of a loving grown-up addressing the little pig, which keeps the pace moving and makes for a great read-aloud. Bean and Pookie are realistically—and endearingly—childlike, from Pookie’s pronunciation of yellow as “lellow!” to the joyful mess they make while decorating eggs. There are plenty of sweet and festive touches, such as the bunny ears that Bean and Pookie (and Pookie’s teddy) wear and the daffodils painted on the end of Pookie’s bed. The illustrations include large, full-page images as well as smaller vignettes against solid backgrounds. One page shows Pookie and parent looking out the window at the moon, anticipating Easter’s spoils. For fans of Boynton and little Pookie, this Easter tale is exactly as expected: a touch of playfulness, a relatable story, and comfort in the familiar. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An upbeat Easter outing with a beloved character. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-66592-838-0
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Boynton Bookworks
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
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