Jolly animals and an intriguing page design are welcome attributes, but the lackluster text and absence of a clear...
Forest animals join forces to build a house where they can live together in harmony in this rhyming story with a retro vibe.
A cheerful mouse kicks off the building project with welcoming, outstretched arms on the title page. The mouse consoles a homeless frog, and they begin gathering sticks to build their new home. They are joined by other animals who need shelter, including rabbits, a bear, a fox, and birds. The animals use tools and boards to build their group home, which is never shown fully in the illustrations, and their construction efforts are rather confusing, as what they are actually building is hard to discern. The singsong rhyming text is earnest and peppy, proclaiming that in this new home, “life will be so sweet.” Soft-focus illustrations with a muted palette feature appealing animals with large eyes and expressive faces, and there are some amusing scenes as the group works together. The creative design includes pages of varying widths and die-cut windows on the cover and concluding spread. One illustration with a rainy setting has the text block set against dark, gray clouds, rendering the words almost unreadable.
Jolly animals and an intriguing page design are welcome attributes, but the lackluster text and absence of a clear conclusion to the building project make this a less than sturdy effort overall. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 23, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5247-7165-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2018
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
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together.
A clueless duckling tries to make a new friend.
He is confused by this peculiar-looking duck, who has a long tail, doesn’t waddle and likes to be alone. No matter how explicitly the creature denies he is a duck and announces that he is a cat, the duckling refuses to acknowledge the facts. When this creature expresses complete lack of interest in playing puddle stomp, the little ducking goes off and plays on his own. But the cat is not without remorse for rejecting an offered friendship. Of course it all ends happily, with the two new friends enjoying each other’s company. Bramsen employs brief sentences and the simplest of rhymes to tell this slight tale. The two heroes are meticulously drawn with endearing, expressive faces and body language, and their feathers and fur appear textured and touchable. Even the detailed tree bark and grass seem three-dimensional. There are single- and double-page spreads, panels surrounded by white space and circular and oval frames, all in a variety of eye-pleasing juxtapositions. While the initial appeal is solidly visual, young readers will get the gentle message that friendship is not something to take for granted but is to be embraced with open arms—or paws and webbed feet.
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-375-86990-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 13, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2012
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