THE LITTLE PIG, THE BICYCLE, AND THE MOON

Name: THE LITTLE PIG, THE BICYCLE, AND THE MOON
Author: Pierrette Dubé
ISBN: 978-1-5344-1472-3

by Pierrette Dubé ; illustrated by Orbie ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 2, 2018

A clever, quirky story whose text and illustrations are a great foil to each other; sure to be fun for all readers—but...

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When Rosie the pig sees a bicycle, she determines that she will ride it in this Canadian import translated from French.

Rosie is a contented pig. She has a barnyard, food, and a “deliciously smelly pigpen.” But when she sees a child (an “ugly animal that had no snout or curly tail”) riding a red bicycle, suddenly she wants more: She wants to ride that bike. Each night, Rosie steals away and tries to ride the bike. Each night she fails but learns something new about momentum, balance, and speed, and each night more and more of the barnyard animals show up to watch or to help. Author Dubé builds the story in a logical, matter-of-fact tone (“Cycling certainly is an action-packed sport”), which humorously juxtaposes against illustrator Orbie’s irreverent illustrations. After her first fall, Rosie decides “it would be safer to wear a helmet”—the illustration shows a saucepan. After a dunk in the lake, Rosie adds more “protective equipment”—a tire around her middle and a “snorkel” made from a piece of elbow pipe. Dialogue and thought bubbles add to the story’s spontaneous feel, and Rosie’s expressions are hilarious as she earnestly tries one thing after another, determined to get the hang of it.

A clever, quirky story whose text and illustrations are a great foil to each other; sure to be fun for all readers—but especially those learning to ride a bike. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Oct. 2, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-5344-1472-3

Page Count: 40

Publisher: McElderry

Review Posted Online: June 24, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2018

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

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WHY A DAUGHTER NEEDS A MOM

by Gregory R. Lange ; illustrated by Sydney Hanson ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2019

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.

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All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.

Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)

Pub Date: May 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

PETE THE CAT'S 12 GROOVY DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

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PETE THE CAT'S 12 GROOVY DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

by James Dean ; illustrated by James Dean ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 18, 2018

Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among

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Pete, the cat who couldn’t care less, celebrates Christmas with his inimitable lassitude.

If it weren’t part of the title and repeated on every other page, readers unfamiliar with Pete’s shtick might have a hard time arriving at “groovy” to describe his Christmas celebration, as the expressionless cat displays not a hint of groove in Dean’s now-trademark illustrations. Nor does Pete have a great sense of scansion: “On the first day of Christmas, / Pete gave to me… / A road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” The cat is shown at the wheel of a yellow microbus strung with garland and lights and with a star-topped tree tied to its roof. On the second day of Christmas Pete gives “me” (here depicted as a gray squirrel who gets on the bus) “2 fuzzy gloves, and a road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” On the third day, he gives “me” (now a white cat who joins Pete and the squirrel) “3 yummy cupcakes,” etc. The “me” mentioned in the lyrics changes from day to day and gift to gift, with “4 far-out surfboards” (a frog), “5 onion rings” (crocodile), and “6 skateboards rolling” (a yellow bird that shares its skateboards with the white cat, the squirrel, the frog, and the crocodile while Pete drives on). Gifts and animals pile on until the microbus finally arrives at the seaside and readers are told yet again that it’s all “GROOVY!”

Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among . (Picture book. 4-8)