Weston’s piggy siblings, Tuck and Bunny (Tuck in the Pool, 1995), finally return for a humorous Halloween escapade. Tuck decides to transform his family garage into a Haunted House for his friends. For maximum chills, the young pig arranges a maze of scary exhibits to titillate his visitors. In the midst of preparing the Ancient Mummy, Tuck’s Tunnel of Doom, and the Icky Drippy Forest, the irrepressible Bunny (who insists on helping) interrupts him. However, Bunny’s extravagant exuberance irritates Tuck, who, in pursuit of perfection, refuses Bunny’s assistance and banishes her to the corner. When his friends arrive, Tuck promptly forgets about the now-sleeping Bunny, who awakens from her slumber to give the party its most hair-raising and hilarious moments. Weston blends just the right amount of thrills and humor into this lighthearted tale. Observation of Tuck’s preparations allows readers to experience the excitement of the haunted house without the fright, revealing such mysteries as Ghouls’ Eyeballs—peeled grapes—and the Cauldron of Worms with Evil Monster Baby—Bunny’s doll stuffed in a pot of noodles. The droll watercolor-and-pencil illustrations further dispel any lingering anxieties, providing clues for the savvy reader as to the identity of the shrieking waif who startles Tuck and friends. Slapstick comedy on scale for pint-sized readers, fans will rejoice in this follow-up tale featuring the zany antics of this inimitable piglet pair. (Picture book. 4-7)
Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2002
ISBN: 0-618-15966-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2002
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
In the market for an understated Christmas classic? Behold! A Christmas miracle!
A dynamic picture-book duo turn their attention to one of the great mysteries of our time.
For those literal-minded children out there, this book serves to answer some essential questions about basic Santa-related logistics. We all know that Santa is supposed to go down the chimney to deliver gifts, but how? “Does he cinch up his belt? Or shrink himself down to the size of a mouse?” That particular speculation is accompanied by an image of a small Santa standing on the edge of a chimney looking down into the abyss. Synched perfectly with Barnett’s gentle yet hilarious questions and often silly propositions (“Or does he slip through the pipes and come out of your faucet?”), Klassen’s tan-skinned Santa is as funny and expressionless as a bearded Buster Keaton. Curiosity runs wild as Barnett ponders everything from Santa doing the laundry in children’s basements to his ability to get along with every household dog he meets, while Klassen’s there to bring each possibility to life. Don’t look for any definitive answers in this story, though. As the last line states, “Santa goes up the chimney the same way he comes down. And I have no idea how Santa does that. But I’m so glad he can.” For all that it leans heavily on absurdity, this book exhibits some serious heart. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
In the market for an understated Christmas classic? Behold! A Christmas miracle! (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2023
ISBN: 9781536223767
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Aug. 12, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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