An amusing mystery with a cute canine protagonist.
A dog searches for his missing belongings and friends in this picture book.
Puppa, an Australian shepherd, can’t find his beloved teacup. It is not on the bedside table where he left it. He wonders: “Was porcelain plundered as I counted sheep?” The canine hopes to enlist his friends in his hunt for the thief, but they are missing, too. For example, his pal Matcha is not in the toy box “where I left him.” Perplexed, Puppa decides to fix himself a snack, but the kitchen is bare: Even the cabinets are empty. He is determined to catch the perpetrator, because “this doggone mess has ruined my day.” Puppa grows hungry and thirsty (“I need a hot cuppa, a muffin, a waffle”). When he smells delicious aromas, he follows his nose and discovers his friends enjoying a party: “All of my pals were here the whole time! Nothing was stolen. There was no crime.” They even saved Puppa a special seat. The pooch exclaims: “Breakfast with friends is my cup of tea!” Anastasia’s fun story features a dash of mystery that is clever and kid-friendly. Readers will enjoy following Puppa’s movements. Saunders’ adorable illustrations depict the canine’s search. The detailed party scenes featuring a table full of treats are especially delightful. The images include anthropomorphic details, like Puppa’s red scarf. They also depict elements of the dog’s imagination, such as various foods, and indicate that his pals are toys or pillows.
An amusing mystery with a cute canine protagonist.Pub Date: Nov. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-952425-02-8
Page Count: 34
Publisher: Jackal Moon Press
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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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