by Nicoletta Costa ; illustrated by Nicoletta Costa ; translated by Grace Maccarone ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 15, 2016
A smart story of good news leading to grace.
A little tree is protectively proprietary about his leaves until late autumn surprises him.
Costa has a lovely way with her artwork; she makes the nuance of color, form, and design look childlike and so welcomes readers to take up brushes and paint along with the story. This takes place in what looks like one of the Cinque Terre hilltop villages in Italy. In the village square stands a young tree that is tasting his first springtime. Leaves! How wonderful! But the tree doesn’t like the other creatures to perch on his limbs or relax in his shade. He worries that they may damage his fine new leaves. “Go away.” Not exactly the Dale Carnegie approach, and the other creatures take offense. The seasons progress, summer brings a fright wig of leaves (think Phyllis Diller as an oak tree), then autumn turns them a radiant gold, then winter—poof! All gone. The tree is bereft. A crow comes to explain things (the text here is sparse, quietly emotive, and revealing). “She told the little tree that, come spring, his leaves would sprout again, stronger and more beautiful than ever. The little tree breathed a sigh of relief and made a promise.” Nothing like a little scare to mend your petty ways, but this is so quietly approached, it doesn’t feel like medicine at all.
A smart story of good news leading to grace. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Feb. 15, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3549-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 2, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2015
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by Nicoletta Costa ; illustrated by Nicoletta Costa ; translated by Grace Maccarone
by Marilyn Sadler ; illustrated by Stephanie Laberis ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 13, 2024
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
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by Marilyn Sadler ; illustrated by Stephanie Laberis
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by Eric Comstock & Marilyn Sadler ; illustrated by Eric Comstock
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by Marilyn Sadler ; illustrated by Ard Hoyt
by Pip Jones ; illustrated by Sara Ogilvie ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2020
A disappointing follow-up.
Inventor Izzy Gizmo is back in this sequel to her eponymous debut (2017).
While busily inventing one day, Izzy receives an invitation from the Genius Guild to their annual convention. Though Izzy’s “inventions…don’t always work,” Grandpa (apparently her sole caregiver) encourages her to go. The next day they undertake a long journey “over fields, hills, and waves” and “mile after mile” to isolated Technoff Isle. There, Izzy finds she must compete against four other kids to create the most impressive machine. The colorful, detail-rich illustrations chronicle how poor Izzy is thwarted at every turn by Abi von Lavish, a Veruca Salt–esque character who takes all the supplies for herself. But when Abi abandons her project, Izzy salvages the pieces and decides to take Grandpa’s advice to create a machine that “can really be put to good use.” A frustrated Izzy’s impatience with a friend almost foils her chance at the prize, but all’s well that ends well. There’s much to like: Brown-skinned inventor girl Izzy is an appealing character, it’s great to see a nurturing brown-skinned male caregiver, the idea of an “Invention Convention” is fun, and a sustainable-energy invention is laudable. However, these elements don’t make up for rhymes that often feel forced and a lackluster story.
A disappointing follow-up. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68263-164-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2020
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by Pip Jones ; illustrated by Sara Ogilvie
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by Pip Jones ; illustrated by Laura Hughes
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by Pip Jones ; illustrated by Ella Okstad
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