Nifty design and good intentions but a likely misfire with intended readers.
Australian Outback animals help kids figure out what to expect on the first day of school.
Step by numbered step this handbook shows what to do—and some wild don’ts—for school newbies. Eat “a healthy, filling breakfast appropriate to your species.” Some of the don’ts may inadvertently give kids ideas (like using sticky tape to “turn…your teacher into a sticky, grumpy mummy”). Who, exactly, is the target audience for this book? A child starting kindergarten—much less preschool—will likely be stymied by a diagram of a teacher’s brain (labels include “prefrontal patience cortex,” “colossal kindness cortex,” and “wisdom ventricle”). Nor will a homesick child be able to decipher the doughnuts that use color-coding to convey various animals’ mixed feelings on the first day or the Venn diagrams depicting the qualities of teachers. Anyone familiar with graphs and diagrams doesn’t need techniques to avoid drop-off sadness or to be reminded not to poop on the blocks or on the teacher, cut their hair with scissors, or eat the crayons. Adult-reader entertainment can be a good add-on, but here it gets in the way of the main event. The pale, soft-edge pastels, in the style of the artwork in the Buntings’ Another Book About Bears (2020), are static but beautifully laid out, especially on the endpapers. The animals are anthropomorphized, though not one of these dazed-looking creatures ever smiles. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nifty design and good intentions but a likely misfire with intended readers. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2023
ISBN: 9781684646081
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kane Miller
Review Posted Online: May 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind.
The cool beans again step up to do a timorous fellow legume a fava…this time at the pool.
Will a rash decision to tackle the multistory super-slide lead to another embarrassing watery fail for our shy protagonist? Nope, for up the stairs right behind comes a trio of cool beans, each a different type and color, all clad in nothing but dark shades. They make an offer: “It’s not as scary if you go with friends!” As the knobby nerd explains once the thrilling ride down is done, “They all realized that I just needed some encouragement and support.” Just to make sure that both cool and uncool readers get the message, the narrator lets us know that “there are plenty of kind folks who have my back. They’re always there when I need them.” The beany bonhomie doesn’t end at the bottom of the slide, with all gliding down to the shallow end of the pool (“3 INCHES. NO DIVING”) for a splashy finale. This latest early reader starring characters from John and Oswald’s immensely popular Food Group series will be a hit with fans. Fun accessories, such as a bean who rocks pink cat-eye frames, add some pizzazz to the chromatically and somatotypically varied cast.
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind. (Easy reader. 5-7)Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9780063329560
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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