IT'S NOT A SCHOOL BUS, IT'S A PIRATE SHIP

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IT'S NOT A SCHOOL BUS, IT'S A PIRATE SHIP

Name: IT'S NOT A SCHOOL BUS, IT'S A PIRATE SHIP
Author: Mickey Rapkin
ISBN: 978-1-250-22977-9

From the It's Not a Bed series

by Mickey Rapkin ; illustrated by Teresa Martínez ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 16, 2020

Imagination conquers fear yet again. Arrgh!

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Rapkin and Martinez build on the imaginative fun of It’s Not a Bed, It’s a Time Machine (2019) with this romp on a pirate ship that looks suspiciously like a school bus.

A cowering child in a red-and-white–striped shirt clutches a stuffed parrot as the school bus approaches. Mom says, “Don’t be scared. You’re the Master of Mornings. The Captain of Cool!” A blue-toned interior shot of the bus shows the imaginary horrors the child envisions seated on the bus, all rendered in a childlike style: a pelican, a shark, a ghost, a skeleton. But everything changes when the driver announces it’s a pirate ship, not a bus. The pint-sized buccaneer, who has pale skin and wavy brown hair, quickly makes a friend in Zenzi, a brown-skinned girl with curls in a topknot. The two exchange jokes, sing pirate songs, and apply sticker tattoos as the riders around them improvise their own pirate gear, including a scribbled paper beard, a hook hand, and an eye patch. The protagonist’s nerves come back when they land at school, but with Zenzi, they can face anything. Martinez’s whimsical flights of fancy fill the illustrations to bursting. Some of what the children see seems based on reality—mermaids exercising with headphones—while others are more difficult to parse, opening the reading up to a dialogue. Pair with Kindergarrrten Bus (2018) by Mike Ornstein and illustrated by Kevin M. Barry.

Imagination conquers fear yet again. Arrgh! (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: June 16, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-250-22977-9

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Imprint

Review Posted Online: May 16, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2020

Categories:

CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

- BOOK REVIEW
IT'S NOT A BED, IT'S A TIME MACHINE
by Mickey Rapkin ; illustrated by Teresa Martínez

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THE ELEPHANT AND THE SEA

by Ed Vere ; illustrated by Ed Vere ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2024

A charming winner about purpose, bravery, and making one’s dreams come true.

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Dedication and determination are everything.

Gabriel, an old elephant who lives by the sea, reminisces about visiting a lifeboat as a youngster. He loved watching the crew ready it to rescue sailors and enjoyed listening to them sing sea shanties. He longed to be so brave! When Gabriel asked to join them, they told him to return when he was older and stronger. Gabriel read about storms and sea rescues and practiced rowing. He grew older, stronger, and BIGGER. By the time he returned to the crew, Gabriel had unfortunately grown too large to fit into the boat. More intent than ever, Gabriel constructed his own vessel, singing mightily. Meanwhile, the fishing fleet set out, then ran into big trouble when a strong gale hit. The regular lifeboat team couldn’t help. Guess who rescued the sailors safely with his own powerful vessel? In the end, everyone decided to build a larger craft to accommodate everyone. By turns thrilling and warmly reassuring, this story demonstrates that resolve—and inclusion—wins out; readers will cheer for Gabriel all the way. Sailing through the narrative are vigorous shanties readers might well join in on. Fitting his animal cast out in thick sweaters and raincoats, Vere brings the Cornish setting to life beautifully. Gabriel cuts an endearing figure in the lively illustrations, rendered in a limited palette of soft oranges, grays, and blues.

A charming winner about purpose, bravery, and making one’s dreams come true. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: May 7, 2024

ISBN: 9780525580904

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
THE ARTIST
by Ed Vere ; illustrated by Ed Vere

- BOOK REVIEW
HOW TO BE A LION
by Ed Vere ; illustrated by Ed Vere

- BOOK REVIEW
MAX AND BIRD
by Ed Vere ; illustrated by Ed Vere

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LITTLE PURPLE TRACTOR

From the Little Heroes, Big Hearts series

by Erin Guendelsberger ; illustrated by Annelouise Mahoney ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2024

Only for kids who really, really want to look at pictures of tractors.

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A purple tractor discovers his purpose.

“Deep in farm country…Purple Tractor had a comfortable home and loving parents, but he was unhappy.” The other tractors—orange, red, and blue—make fun of him because of his inability to perform farm-related chores. He finds comfort talking with Brown Truck, who’s lived on the farm longer than any other vehicle and tells stories about the old days. Brown Truck has the perfect job for Purple Tractor: working on a construction site. Purple Tractor heads to a construction site with Brown Truck and enjoys the work. His fellow farm tractors start to feel threatened by his new sense of self, but once he saves the day after a severe weather event, he eventually finds his place in both worlds. Exhaustingly long blocks of text are paired with static illustrations of pastoral and urban scenes. While heavy machinery is often an automatic hit with young children, this one will have a hard time finding an appreciative audience. The story is wordy, with a leaden sentimentality that comes from painstakingly explaining what lessons readers should be taking away. The heroism in this Little Heroes, Big Hearts series leaves a lot to be desired.

Only for kids who really, really want to look at pictures of tractors. (Picture book. 4-7)