Sweet, albeit somewhat visually overwhelming.
A guide dog describes how they assist their “best friend,” Vincent.
Scout, a black, googly-eyed pup, matter-of-factly explains that Vincent can’t see, so they “go everywhere together.” Vincent’s commands direct the pair to “all [their] favorite places,” including the park and a restaurant, while Scout ensures the streets are clear to cross. Noting that “being a guide is a big responsibility,” Scout explains that when in their harness, they can’t play or interact with others. But at the park, a double-page spread depicts a spirited game of fetch; an unharnessed Scout bounds across the pages, appearing to multiply as Vincent throws the stick “again / and again / and again” until the text fades with repetition. Once home, Scout and Vincent—who both have “excellent hearing”—snuggle and listen to records, their blissful expressions confirming Scout’s declaration: “I love Vincent and Vincent loves me!” Ljungkvist’s crisp, geometric illustrations add texture, but their busy colors and patterns may be visually taxing for some readers. A Scout’s-eye view of pedestrians’ pant legs is a forest of stripes, plaids, spirals, and more. Vincent’s pink plaid trousers compete with a purple-checked couch and pink-checkered tablecloth; red trees blend into a green background. Unfortunately, the clash of patterns extends to Vincent’s clothing, which risks implying that blind people can’t dress themselves—a potentially jarring note in an otherwise informative, upbeat portrayal of a guide dog team. Vincent presents White.
Sweet, albeit somewhat visually overwhelming. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 3, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-57687-986-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: POW!
Review Posted Online: June 1, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021
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
Serve this superbly designed title to all who relish slightly scary stories.
Kids know vegetables can be scary, but rarely are edible roots out to get someone. In this whimsical mock-horror tale, carrots nearly frighten the whiskers off Jasper Rabbit, an interloper at Crackenhopper Field.
Jasper loves carrots, especially those “free for the taking.” He pulls some in the morning, yanks out a few in the afternoon, and comes again at night to rip out more. Reynolds builds delicious suspense with succinct language that allows understatements to be fully exploited in Brown’s hilarious illustrations. The cartoon pictures, executed in pencil and then digitally colored, are in various shades of gray and serve as a perfectly gloomy backdrop for the vegetables’ eerie orange on each page. “Jasper couldn’t get enough carrots … / … until they started following him.” The plot intensifies as Jasper not only begins to hear the veggies nearby, but also begins to see them everywhere. Initially, young readers will wonder if this is all a product of Jasper’s imagination. Was it a few snarling carrots or just some bathing items peeking out from behind the shower curtain? The ending truly satisfies both readers and the book’s characters alike. And a lesson on greed goes down like honey instead of a forkful of spinach.
Serve this superbly designed title to all who relish slightly scary stories. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 21, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0297-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 1, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2012
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