A must
Why would adorable Willy want to be anything other than the gorilla he is?
At the city zoo, Willy the gorilla wants to be some other animal. “Maybe a lion? / If Willy strides outside and roars with pride, will Willy be a lion? / Will he? / No. Still a gorilla!” Willy tries to become a walrus, a billy goat, an alligator, and a kangaroo…but he’s always still a gorilla. But what if he tries to be all animals at the same time, mimicking every zoo-mate at once? “Will Willy be silly? / Yes! Willy will be silly. Very silly and… / STILL A GORILLA!” Norman’s tongue-twister–y text is nearly as much fun to read (after some practice) as Geran’s bold, bright, digital illustrations. Wide-eyed little Willy makes the lion laugh with his antics. He jams bananas in his mouth for tusks, imitating the walrus. He bumfuzzles himself head-butting the billy goat—all in a quest to be something other than he is. Toddlers will respond to the rhythmic, double-rhyming text as well as the desire to be more or different than they are. The humorous, affirmative ending (with Willy obviously happy being still a gorilla, though a silly one) is perfect.
A must . (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: July 26, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-545-75791-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 29, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2016
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
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
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