A dreamy nighttime adventure capturing the wonder of the natural world.
In Knudsen’s debut illustrated chapter book, two curious cats go exploring in search of the full moon, which appears to have vanished.
Topper and his brother Lexington are typical young cats. They love to climb trees and chase lizards, and they are fascinated and distracted by the world around them in equal measure. One night, they become entranced by the full moon (“It made everything outside look magical”), so large in the sky that Topper seems almost able to touch it from his perch on a high branch. The two brothers wait for the moon to become full again, but find only darkness in its place—and then a big, round, red, planetlike thing. Disobeying their mother’s instructions not to venture beyond their yard, the brothers set off to search for the disappeared moon. Along the way, they encounter the mermaid Shellie and her dolphin friend. Shellie, too, is missing the full moon, under whose light her tail and seaweed will transform into legs and a dress, allowing her to dance. Braving the threat of coyotes, Lexington and Topper climb a nearby cliff to consult with an owl. The moon returns, and they learn about lunar eclipses. Knudsen narrates a straightforward tale, using age-appropriate language and dialogue. Topper and Lexington embody the quintessential playful curiosity of young cats and will appeal to children and adults alike. Their journey plays out moment-to-moment; the narrative is more languid than urgent, in keeping with the artistic focus and exploration of place. While there is quite a lot of text for young readers to work through, it is commensurate with the scope and detail of the Dewitts’ full-page illustrations. The dark palette and watercolor textures convey a striking sense of the world at night and often bleed through to the text pages, hinting at unseen spaces and larger landscapes. Perhaps the greatest strength of the Dewitts’ artwork lies in the backgrounds, as seen in an image of the night sky and clouded red moon with rippling waves and shadowy palm trees leaning in the distance; Topper and Lexington’s explorations come to life in no small part due to the richness of such settings.
A dreamy nighttime adventure capturing the wonder of the natural world.Pub Date: March 31, 2023
ISBN: 9781039144446
Page Count: 44
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: Aug. 28, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
A pleasing premise for book lovers.
A fantasy-loving bookworm makes a wonderful, terrible bargain.
When sixth grader Poppy Woodlock’s historic preservationist parents move the family to the Oregon coast to work on the titular stately home, Poppy’s sure she’ll find magic. Indeed, the exiled water nymph in the manor’s ruined swimming pool grants a wish, but: “Magic isn’t free. It cosssts.” The price? Poppy’s favorite book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In return she receives Sampson, a winged lion cub who is everything Poppy could have hoped for. But she soon learns that the nymph didn’t take just her own physical book—she erased Narnia from Poppy’s world. And it’s just the first loss: Soon, Poppy’s grandmother’s journal’s gone, then The Odyssey, and more. The loss is heartbreaking, but Sampson’s a wonderful companion, particularly as Poppy’s finding middle school a tough adjustment. Hartman’s premise is beguiling—plenty of readers will identify with Poppy, both as a fellow bibliophile and as a kid struggling to adapt. Poppy’s repeatedly expressed faith that unveiling Sampson will bring some sort of vindication wears thin, but that does not detract from the central drama. It’s a pity that the named real-world books Poppy reads are notably lacking in diversity; a story about the power of literature so limited in imagination lets both itself and readers down. Main characters are cued White; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast. Chapters open with atmospheric spot art. (This review has been updated to reflect the final illustrations.)
A pleasing premise for book lovers. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780316448222
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
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