A whimsical metanarrative turns a pleasantly scary monster into readers’ new best friend.
It’s going to be hard, but keep the giggles down. Don’t wake the monster up!
This is “no ordinary book. // You see, inside this book lives a monster…so we have to be VERY CAREFUL.” But not to worry—a group of friendly, neon guides teaches readers to become monster experts. Ironically, the guides themselves look a lot like monsters; some have a single eye, while others have horns, scales, or long legs. But when the narrators accidentally awaken the sleeping monster, words begin to disappear from the book’s pages—a wide-awake monster is a very hungry monster that eats words. Will the narrators (and readers) be able to finish the book? Quickly, the guides stuff the monster full of random words so it will leave their book alone. The monster, an ominous shadow puppet wolf with sharp teeth, hovers over the anxious guides and gobbles up most, but not all, of the word treats. At last, the shadow softens and the dangerous teeth disappear to reveal the monster’s message and the book’s punchline (hint: The monster isn’t nearly as frightening as the narrators had anticipated). Visual humor and brightly colored monsters set against uncluttered backgrounds make this a good read-aloud. Beginning readers might also enjoy creating their own messages from the words offered to the monster. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A whimsical metanarrative turns a pleasantly scary monster into readers’ new best friend. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: July 19, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-250-81759-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: April 12, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2022
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet notion that falls flat.
A hit song reimagined as a book about parental love.
Featured in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1, Perri’s “A Thousand Years” deals with the speaker’s fear of romantic love. In picture-book form, it explores a parent’s unwavering love for a child, who grows from an infant into a toddler over the course of the narrative. The caregiver expresses awe when the youngster learns to stand and fear that the child might fall while beginning to walk. “I have spent every day waiting for you,” the parent says. “Darling, don’t be afraid.” What the child might fear isn’t clear from the joyful balloon- and rainbow-filled illustrations. The story borders on cloying, and words that might work when sung and accompanied by music don’t sound fresh on the page: “Time goes by. / You grow ever stronger as you fly.” The refrain, however, is a lovely sentiment: “I have loved you for a thousand years. / I’ll love you for a thousand more.” Perri’s legion of fans may flock to this version, illustrated by Ruiz with sparkling stars, bubbles, and big-eyed toddlers, but it doesn’t hold together as a narrative or an ode, as it’s billed, and it’s a long way from the original song. The child is tan-skinned, the parent is lighter-skinned, and other characters are diverse.
A sweet notion that falls flat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9780593622599
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
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