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HUMBERT

Name: HUMBERT
Author: John Burningham
ISBN: 0099413221

by John Burningham ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 31, 1967

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A four-by-four red and ruffled Lord Mayor riding on a stove in Mr. Firkin the junkman's wagon, drawn by the determined horse Humbert—when the coach and four broke down. Humbert insisted on volunteering. Burningham (like another Britisher we could mention) is so good he's sometimes too good—too much textured sky, too many scarlet-to-purple buildings looking like London on fire, too big a crowd of abase caricatures— but when he concentrates on Humbert and the Lord Mayor, on Mr. Firkin enjoying his sandwich and his pint, he packs a very funny Punch. The plot, however, is just another poor-horse-makes-good.

Pub Date: May 31, 1967

ISBN: 0099413221

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Bobbs-Merrill

Review Posted Online: April 18, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1967

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
AIR MILES
by John Burningham & Bill Salaman ; illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

- BOOK REVIEW
MOTOR MILES
by John Burningham ; illustrated by John Burningham

- BOOK REVIEW
THE WAY TO THE ZOO
by John Burningham ; illustrated by John Burningham

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CARPENTER'S HELPER

by Sybil Rosen ; illustrated by Camille Garoche ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 16, 2021

Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story.

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A home-renovation project is interrupted by a family of wrens, allowing a young girl an up-close glimpse of nature.

Renata and her father enjoy working on upgrading their bathroom, installing a clawfoot bathtub, and cutting a space for a new window. One warm night, after Papi leaves the window space open, two wrens begin making a nest in the bathroom. Rather than seeing it as an unfortunate delay of their project, Renata and Papi decide to let the avian carpenters continue their work. Renata witnesses the birth of four chicks as their rosy eggs split open “like coats that are suddenly too small.” Renata finds at a crucial moment that she can help the chicks learn to fly, even with the bittersweet knowledge that it will only hasten their exits from her life. Rosen uses lively language and well-chosen details to move the story of the baby birds forward. The text suggests the strong bond built by this Afro-Latinx father and daughter with their ongoing project without needing to point it out explicitly, a light touch in a picture book full of delicate, well-drawn moments and precise wording. Garoche’s drawings are impressively detailed, from the nest’s many small bits to the developing first feathers on the chicks and the wall smudges and exposed wiring of the renovation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)

Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story. (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: March 16, 2021

ISBN: 978-0-593-12320-1

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random

Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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SOMEBUNNY LOVES YOU

From the Punderland series

by Rose Rossner ; illustrated by Jessica Gibson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 2, 2021

<p>Perfectly fine but nothing new.</p>

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Caregiver-child love abounds in this rhyming board book full of animal puns.

One thing’s for certain, there’s plenty of sweet (and groanworthy) sentiments in this book. Rossner writes, “Giving HOGS and kisses / sends me to the moon!” and, “I’m such a lucky DUCK. / You really QUACK me up!” The book progresses entirely in this fashion, with a new animal pair and pun with each page turn. It reads well as a book for a caregiver to share with a lap-sitting child. On that mark, it succeeds in providing plenty of opportunities for giggles and snuggles. That said, at times the meter is forced, making the cadence a bit stilted, and the cuddles/bubbles rhyme is a dubious one. This is an issue for a book that will almost solely be read aloud. Gibson’s illustrations are very charming; the animals and insects with big eyes and expressive faces have high appeal. The warmth of the animals’ embraces and cuddles translates well from the page, inviting the same snuggles from readers. Decorated eggs appear on each page, and the bunny pair from the cover features prominently. Overall, the concept and message of the book are high interest and age-appropriate, but it doesn’t stand out from the very crowded shelf of “I love you, little one!” books similar to it.

<p>Perfectly fine but nothing new.</p> (Board book. 6 mos.-2)