An enjoyable treat for the holiday. Don’t pass this one over.
Celebrating Passover, buccaneer style.
Capt. Drew and a racially diverse pirate crew are getting ready for Passover: swabbing the deck, polishing rails, raising sails, and getting rid of chametz—leavened foods—illustrated as those containing wheat plus other forbidden-during-Passover items such as what appear to be doughnuts, corn, and crackers. Drew explains that matzah will be eaten instead and prepares the seder plate with foods that serve a symbolic function at the festive dinner. All isn’t smooth sailing, however. A heavy storm arises as the crew sits down to eat. Heavy rain, high waves, lightning, and matzah balls rolling down the plank and sinking into the turbulent sea destroy any hope for a shipboard seder. When the ship washes ashore on a tropical isle, Captain Drew leads the crew to a house, where they’re welcomed to join the seder hosted by the family living there. All the traditional rituals are observed, and even Drew’s parrot, Bernie, participates. The evening ends pleasantly, with improved weather, and the pirates sail away on calm seas. This is a sweet, original take on the holiday, expressed in lilting rhymes that read and scan well. Children will enjoy the cheerful pirate theme, and Jewish youngsters who understand Passover rituals and traditions will appreciate the textual and depicted nods to recognizable customs. Illustrations are colorful and lively. Drew is light-skinned; the island family is tan-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An enjoyable treat for the holiday. Don’t pass this one over. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-72844-303-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Kar-Ben
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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