A solid choice for dog lovers and those who want to better appreciate how dogs help humans.
Children lament time apart from their hardworking dogs.
“There they go. Off to who knows where. / What do they do all day? And how could they leave us behind?” So lament a Black child with Afro puffs and a White child with braids looking out their window at dogs on their way to work. All of the dogs stand on their hind legs, looking very much like adult humans (complete with briefcase, purse, or headphones) on their way to work. The illustrations respond to the children’s lament by chronicling dogs’ many jobs (jobs that dogs actually have in real life): therapy dogs, lobster-diving dogs, guide dogs, service dogs, rescue dogs, a small-town mayor, and more (further information is given in the “barkmatter” at the end of the book). The inclusion of “mom dogs” as a dog job is wonderful. There is great ambiguity in who is speaking in the accompanying text—is it the dogs who need to cuddle, eat, and so forth, or the children?—which may lead to some confusion for readers. OHora’s signature boldly outlined acrylic paintings present very expressive characters, dogs and humans alike, and are charmingly whimsical. The joy in the illustrations is palpable, and seeing the many ways dogs help humans will be especially touching to dog lovers. Many dog breeds are represented along with children of different races and abilities. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A solid choice for dog lovers and those who want to better appreciate how dogs help humans. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 22, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-06-290631-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
Yes, the Pigeon has to go to school, and so do readers, and this book will surely ease the way.
All the typical worries and excuses kids have about school are filtered through Willems’ hysterical, bus-loving Pigeon.
Told mostly in speech balloons, the bird’s monologue will have kids (and their caregivers) in stitches at Pigeon’s excuses. From already knowing everything (except whatever question readers choose to provide in response to “Go ahead—ask me a question. / Any question!”) to fearing learning too much (“My head might pop off”), Pigeon’s imagination has run wild. Readers familiar with Pigeon will recognize the muted, matte backgrounds that show off the bird’s shenanigans so well. As in previous outings, Willems varies the size of the pigeon on the page to help communicate emotion, the bird teeny small on the double-page spread that illustrates the confession that “I’m… / scared.” And Pigeon’s eight-box rant about all the perils of school (“The unknown stresses me out, dude”) is marvelously followed by the realization (complete with lightbulb thought bubble) that school is the place for students to practice, with experts, all those skills they don’t yet have. But it is the ending that is so Willems, so Pigeon, and so perfect. Pigeon’s last question is “Well, HOW am I supposed to get there, anyway!?!” Readers will readily guess both the answer and Pigeon’s reaction.
Yes, the Pigeon has to go to school, and so do readers, and this book will surely ease the way. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: July 2, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-368-04645-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 7, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2019
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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