This zany version of the oft-told (and oft-app'ed) story makes up for its storytelling shortcomings with lots of...
A high-energy, modern take on the story of a boy and his magic beans, this app's solid presentation and slyly humorous touches make it stand out from other "Beanstalk" adaptations.
Jack, a hyperactive kid who sits in front of the television set playing twitch-inducing video games all day (even as he lives in a tiny cottage on a farm), sells the family cow to buy some beans, climbs a giant beanstalk and discovers a homicidal giant from whom he can steal an enchanted harp and a magic hen. While it doesn't quite match the standard of the Ayars Animation version, which was a more classical take, this app's music, animation and voice work are just as appealing. Each page is packed with small background jokes and items to manipulate, and the characters have a varied "library" of dialogue, so multiple taps do not always bring up the same lines on each page. On the other hand, some of the activities seem thrown in for no good reason; dressing Jack up in clothes and props has no bearing on what he's wearing on the next page, for instance. But overall the jokey artwork (check out the '80s heavy-metal look of the giant) is enjoyable, even if the text and narration are by-the-numbers and at times sloppy.
This zany version of the oft-told (and oft-app'ed) story makes up for its storytelling shortcomings with lots of personality. (iPad storybook app. 3-8)Pub Date: July 25, 2011
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Mindshapes
Review Posted Online: Sept. 17, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This bunny escapes all the traps but fails to find a logical plot or an emotional connection with readers.
The bestselling series (How to Catch an Elf, 2016, etc.) about capturing mythical creatures continues with a story about various ways to catch the Easter Bunny as it makes its annual deliveries.
The bunny narrates its own story in rhyming text, beginning with an introduction at its office in a manufacturing facility that creates Easter eggs and candy. The rabbit then abruptly takes off on its delivery route with a tiny basket of eggs strapped to its back, immediately encountering a trap with carrots and a box propped up with a stick. The narrative focuses on how the Easter Bunny avoids increasingly complex traps set up to catch him with no explanation as to who has set the traps or why. These traps include an underground tunnel, a fluorescent dance floor with a hidden pit of carrots, a robot bunny, pirates on an island, and a cannon that shoots candy fish, as well as some sort of locked, hazardous site with radiation danger. Readers of previous books in the series will understand the premise, but others will be confused by the rabbit’s frenetic escapades. Cartoon-style illustrations have a 1960s vibe, with a slightly scary, bow-tied bunny with chartreuse eyes and a glowing palette of neon shades that shout for attention.
This bunny escapes all the traps but fails to find a logical plot or an emotional connection with readers. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4926-3817-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Jan. 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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