A richly illustrated, accessible critique of consumer culture and scarcity mentality.
A modern yet timeless fable in which a child’s observation sparks a paradigm shift for a society that values individual production and ownership.
Two groups of humans live on either side of a mountain, leading disparate lives due to the range of resources available to them: One side catches fish, mines jewels, grows crops, and sells things among themselves, while the other side must eke out a living with crops grown in weak soil. What this second group lacks in material wealth, however, they more than make up for in close-knit community, freely sharing experiences and stories. The book’s child protagonist, Pim—who is never gendered by the text—hails from the storytelling group. One day Pim ventures to the marketplace over the mountain in search of a new story but finds much more. Goodhart’s prose, which captures both the wonder and pragmatism of many folktales, is supported by Abdollahi’s vibrant, detailed patchworklike watercolors. The angular, almost cubist artistic style, featuring paper-white figures with large eyes and elongated limbs, lends the text a surreal, vaguely unsettling affect that echoes its anti-capitalist message. The text placement is visually dynamic in several spreads, though certain other design elements distract rather than support; for example, the cover’s muted gray background clashes with its rounded, colorful display type.
A richly illustrated, accessible critique of consumer culture and scarcity mentality. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-910328-20-0
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Tiny Owl
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2019
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available.
A ghost learns to appreciate his differences.
The little ghost protagonist of this title is unusual. He’s a quilt, not a lightweight sheet like his parents and friends. He dislikes being different despite his mom’s reassurance that his ancestors also had unconventional appearances. Halloween makes the little ghost happy, though. He decides to watch trick-or-treaters by draping over a porch chair—but lands on a porch rail instead. A mom accompanying her daughter picks him up, wraps him around her chilly daughter, and brings him home with them! The family likes his looks and comforting warmth, and the little ghost immediately feels better about himself. As soon as he’s able to, he flies out through the chimney and muses happily that this adventure happened only due to his being a quilt. This odd but gently told story conveys the importance of self-respect and acceptance of one’s uniqueness. The delivery of this positive message has something of a heavy-handed feel and is rushed besides. It also isn’t entirely logical: The protagonist could have been a different type of covering; a blanket, for instance, might have enjoyed an identical experience. The soft, pleasing illustrations’ palette of tans, grays, white, black, some touches of color, and, occasionally, white text against black backgrounds suggest isolation, such as the ghost feels about himself. Most humans, including the trick-or-treating mom and daughter, have beige skin. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-16.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 66.2% of actual size.)
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7352-6447-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
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
BOOK REVIEW
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