A sparkly, sugary first-day-of-school book with a lightly encouraging message.
A fairy navigates spellcasting troubles in this new offering from the author of Angelina Ballerina and its sequels (illustrated by Helen Craig, 1983, etc.).
On the first day of school, fairy Twinkle bursts into song and glows with excitement. Yet her enthusiasm wanes as she struggles to cast spells as skillfully as her friends Pippa and Lulu. Determined to master her homework that night, she forgets the correct words to her spells and causes a commotion that disrupts the inhabitants of Sparkle Tree Forest. Twinkle’s apology to the sleep-deprived creatures “for my silly spells” acknowledges her responsibility for the ruckus but also devalues her abilities. The real issue at hand is neither Twinkle nor her spellcasting. Rather, it’s her frustration at her inability to perform at her peers’ level—and nothing about that is silly. Thankfully, her observant teacher’s suggestion to play to her strengths supports Twinkle’s growth in both spellcasting and self-confidence. Detailed, cheerful (sometimes glittery) digital illustrations and several flourish-laden typefaces maintain a playful air. Quaint structures in the endpapers’ giant tree are labeled with names like “Pippa’s Pod” and “Library,” which orient readers to Twinkle’s world and hint at future installments. The fairies appear to be exclusively female and mostly white; Pippa is the only brown character, while an unnamed pale classmate with a dark, blunt bob could be read as Asian.
A sparkly, sugary first-day-of-school book with a lightly encouraging message. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5344-2915-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school...
The familiar theme of the challenges facing a new kid in town is given an original treatment by photographer Border in this book of photos of three-dimensional objects in a simple modeled landscape.
Peanut Butter is represented by a slice of white bread spread with the popular condiment. The other characters in the story—a hamburger with a pair of hot dogs in tow, a bowl of alphabet soup, a meatball jumping a rope of spaghetti, a carton of French fries and a pink cupcake—are represented by skillfully crafted models of these foods, anthropomorphized using simple wire construction. Rejected by each character in turn in his search for playmates, Peanut Butter discovers in the end that Jelly is his true match (not Cupcake, as the title suggests), perhaps because she is the only one who looks like him, being a slice of white bread spread with jelly. The friendly foods end up happily playing soccer together. Some parents may have trouble with the unabashedly happy depiction of carbs and American junk food (no carrots or celery sticks in this landscape), and others may find themselves troubled by the implication that friendship across difference is impossible.
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school experiences. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: July 29, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-399-16773-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2014
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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