There’s not much new under the sun, or in the sea, but a bouncy rhythm—and full-on shouted conclusion—can’t be beat.
Two curious monkeys think they are alone on an island in the middle of the sea.
The narrating monkey stares through a pair of binoculars and begins the repeating refrain: “In the middle of the sea, / as far as the eye could see, / there was nothing to see / but sea.” Quite full for a deserted spot, the tiny island the monkeys are stranded on has a volcano, a cave, boulders, and three coconut trees. With each page turn, however, animals start to emerge from the crevasses, so the narrator needs to adjust the ever expanding, cumulative verse. Suddenly there are also “two wee dogs who thought they were frogs” and “three perky pigs all wearing wigs.” From one to 10, more and more animals come, painted with exuberant anthropomorphism by Hillenbrand (the punk-tressed pigs in grass skirts are a special treat). He plants cues in his mottled, digital spreads to help observant readers predict what creature may come next. Annie McPhee (the narrator’s original monkey pal) grows increasingly worried as the crowd expands. By the time “ten rascally rats skipping in hats” come prancing by, poor Annie McPhee has had enough. A certain spout on the cover (and dedication page) hints at the monkeys’ escape plan.
There’s not much new under the sun, or in the sea, but a bouncy rhythm—and full-on shouted conclusion—can’t be beat. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 14, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-399-16808-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: March 15, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2016
A tender book to help little ones make sense of the emotions around prayer.
Actor Metz and songwriter Collins join illustrator Fields in their second faith-related title for young children.
Instead of focusing on the language of prayer—what to say or how to say it—this book explores a topic central to the lives of the very young: their feelings around talking to God. Rhymes and near-rhymes in the AABB verses enumerate the simple challenges and triumphs experienced by a series of animals: “Sometimes I’m sad, not sure what to do. / There are days I feel teary, unhappy, or blue. / I fell off a log. I’m embarrassed and hurt. / My coat and paws are all covered in dirt.” An accompanying illustration depicts a sad wolf pup, a definite contrast to its siblings, who are delighting in their play. The highlight of the book is Fields’ animal characters. Whether happy, nervous, or sad, their expressive faces are easy to read, and their feelings will be familiar to young tots. The beaver’s frustration is palpable, and the tears in the scared raccoon’s eyes may just make readers’ own eyes well up. Some of the animals have a God stand-in to help them with their feelings—a friend or family member—but the final spread shows all the individual animals coming together in a couple of group hugs that express where children can find support (and sweetly defy predator–prey relationships).
A tender book to help little ones make sense of the emotions around prayer. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 4, 2025
ISBN: 9780593691366
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
Count on construction die-hards falling in love, but discerning readers would be wise to look elsewhere for their...
Less ambitious than Chris Gall’s widely known Dinotrux (2009) and sequels, this British import systematically relegates each dinosaur/construction-equipment hybrid to its most logical job.
The title figures are introduced as bigger than both diggers and dinosaurs, and rhyming text and two construction-helmeted kids show just what these creatures are capable of. Each diggersaur has a specific job to do and a distinct sound effect. The dozersaurus moves rocks with a “SCRAAAAPE!!!” while the rollersaurus flattens lumps with a cheery “TOOT TOOT!!” Each diggersaur is numbered, with 12 in all, allowing this to be a counting book on the sly. As the diggersaurs (not all of which dig) perform jobs that regular construction equipment can do, albeit on a larger scale, there is no particular reason why any of them should have dinosaurlike looks other than just ’cause. Peppy computer art tries valiantly to attract attention away from the singularly unoriginal text. “Diggersaurs dig with bites so BIG, / each SCOOP creates a crater. // They’re TOUGH and STRONG / with necks so long— / they’re super EXCAVATORS!” Far more interesting are the two human characters, a white girl and a black boy, that flit about the pictures offering commentary and action. Much of the fun of the book can be found in trying to spot them on every two-page spread.
Count on construction die-hards falling in love, but discerning readers would be wise to look elsewhere for their dino/construction kicks. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 2, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-9848-4779-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Jan. 14, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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