A hilarious and heartwarming exposé of adults’ often ridiculous expectations for children.
Various anthropomorphized animals and natural phenomena scold their children for behaving in accordance with their natures.
A chick cracks through its shell, only for its parent to admonish it for breaking its egg. A wolf tells its howling cub to be quiet. A cloud wants its child to stop crying (raining). Over and over again, these parents voice their disapproval. The repetitive structure allows both tension and comedy to steadily build, leaving readers wondering exactly how these series of demands and reprimands will be resolved—after all, aren’t these children simply being true to themselves? A pig scolds its child for wallowing in the mud, a frog chides its offspring for leaping into the water, and a worm tells its little one to “stop squirming!” It all culminates when a young octopus finally speaks up: “I am just being me.” The enveloping hug from the parent octopus says it all. This brief, simple story wastes no words, instead delivering a wallop of humor and emotion that will both entertain and foster empathy in adults inclined to punish youngsters for simply following their natural inclinations. Squiggly illustrations with minimal outlines and brief splashes of color emphasize the silliness of the demands. The visuals effectively get the action across while letting the absurdity of the parents’ orders and concerns speak for themselves.
A hilarious and heartwarming exposé of adults’ often ridiculous expectations for children. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 23, 2024
ISBN: 9780593660409
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Rise x Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Oct. 7, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
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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