by Mary Engelbreit & illustrated by Mary Engelbreit ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 1, 2006
Engelbreit’s signature character, Ann Estelle, is the star of this Easter story, the fourth in a series with the theme of being a “queen” of various holidays and situations. In this pleasant but predictable offering, Ann Estelle wants to have the most amazing hat for her neighborhood Easter parade, so that she can feel like “the Queen of Easter.” Her new, disappointingly plain Easter hat is left outside on the porch where it becomes a nest for a robin family, so Ann Estelle redecorates her old hat with flowers, ribbons and a nest of candy eggs. She invites the Easter parade to stop by her house to see “the very best Easter hat ever,” the one with a nest of baby robins inside. Engelbreit’s illustrations demonstrate her typically cheerful style in candy-bright colors, framed by borders of Easter eggs, decorated hats, spring blossoms and baby robins. Engelbreit’s fans may declare this Easter offering as delectable as a gourmet chocolate egg, but others may find it like eating far too many jelly beans. Includes a separate paper-doll sheet of Ann Estelle. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2006
ISBN: 0-06-008184-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2006
Share your opinion of this book
More by Clement C. Moore
BOOK REVIEW
by Clement C. Moore ; illustrated by Mary Engelbreit ; adapted by Mary Engelbreit
BOOK REVIEW
by Mary Engelbreit ; illustrated by Mary Engelbreit
BOOK REVIEW
by Mary Engelbreit ; illustrated by Mary Engelbreit
by William Boniface ; illustrated by Julien Chung ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2024
A successful swap from coconut tree to Christmas tree.
A Christmas edition of the beloved alphabet book.
The story starts off nearly identically to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (1989), written by John Archambault and the late Bill Martin Jr, with the letters A, B, and C deciding to meet in the branches of a tree. This time, they’re attempting to scale a Christmas tree, not a coconut tree, and the letters are strung together like garland. A, B, and C are joined by the other letters, and of course they all “slip, slop, topple, plop!” right down the tree. At the bottom, they discover an assortment of gifts, all in a variety of shapes. As a team, the letters and presents organize themselves to get back up on the Christmas tree and get a star to the top. Holiday iterations of favorite tales often fall flat, but this take succeeds. The gifts are an easy way to reinforce another preschool concept—shapes—and the text uses just enough of the original to be familiar. The rhyming works, sticking to the cadence of the source material. The illustrations pay homage to the late Lois Ehlert’s, featuring the same bold block letters, though they lack some of the whimsy and personality of the original. Otherwise, everything is similarly brightly colored and simply drawn. Those familiar with the classic will be drawn to this one, but newcomers can enjoy it on its own.
A successful swap from coconut tree to Christmas tree. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781665954761
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
Share your opinion of this book
More by William Boniface
BOOK REVIEW
Awards & Accolades
Likes
10
Our Verdict
GET IT
New York Times Bestseller
by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 5, 2023
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Awards & Accolades
Likes
10
Our Verdict
GET IT
New York Times Bestseller
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
Share your opinion of this book
More by Mo Willems
BOOK REVIEW
by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems
BOOK REVIEW
by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems
BOOK REVIEW
by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.