Cheerful but preachy exhortation to leave the nest.
In a parable of persistence and tough love, adorable, anthropomorphized pigeons underscore the importance of positivity.
Sporting a purple bow around her neck, Mama pigeon flies in from parts unknown, and before we even see eggs, three babies appear: Chérie, Bisou, and Petite. Her siblings begin learning to fly, but Petite finds it impossible and decides that she will not. Mama cradles and indulges her, but in the morning, Petite finds herself alone in the nest. To her cries of hunger, her mother responds: Fly or wait for Mama to return. She waits. The next morning, fog seems a good excuse to stay in, but Mama tells her that, cloudy or sunny, pigeons must fly. Petite tries again, and Voila! Suddenly the sight of the distant nest causes her to plummet. Her siblings shout “Fly” and “Flap your wings,” and Petite triumphs. A final spread underscores the heavy-handedly delivered lesson: Negative thinking is bad, positive thinking is good, and encouragement is all you need to succeed. The supersweet illustrations focus on the airbrushed nest, the pastel sky, and the cute pigeons, who have expressive eyebrows above their round eyes. Defying gravity, the nest perches precariously on the end of a branch. The setting could be any city; nothing in the artwork evokes Paris but a couple of misty Eiffel Tower outlines. There’s no missing the story’s point, however. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Cheerful but preachy exhortation to leave the nest. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: April 15, 2023
ISBN: 9781534111820
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily.
A group of young “dinosauruses” go out into the world on their own.
A fuchsia little Hugasaurus and her Pappysaur (both of whom resemble Triceratops) have never been apart before, but Hugasaurus happily heads off with lunchbox in hand and “wonder in her heart” to make new friends. The story has a first-day-of-school feeling, but Hugasaurus doesn’t end up in a formal school environment; rather, she finds herself on a playground with other little prehistoric creatures, though no teacher or adult seems to be around. At first, the new friends laugh and play. But Hugasaurus’ pals begin to squabble, and play comes to a halt. As she wonders what to do, a fuzzy platypus playmate asks some wise questions (“What…would your Pappy say to do? / What makes YOU feel better?”), and Hugasaurus decides to give everyone a hug—though she remembers to ask permission first. Slowly, good humor is restored and play begins anew with promises to be slow to anger and, in general, to help create a kinder world. Short rhyming verses occasionally use near rhyme but also include fun pairs like ripples and double-triples. Featuring cozy illustrations of brightly colored creatures, the tale sends a strong message about appropriate and inappropriate ways to resolve conflict, the final pages restating the lesson plainly in a refrain that could become a classroom motto. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-338-82869-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
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