WALLY THE WORLD'S GREATEST PIANO-PLAYING WOMBAT

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WALLY THE WORLD'S GREATEST PIANO-PLAYING WOMBAT

Name: WALLY THE WORLD'S GREATEST PIANO-PLAYING WOMBAT
Author: Ratha Tep
ISBN: 978-1-64896-180-9

by Ratha Tep ; illustrated by Camilla Pintonato ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 18, 2022

This rollicking fable will resonate with aficionados, dilettantes, and prodigies everywhere.

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One-upmanship has never been so over-the-top.

How can Wally Wombat keep up with Wylie Wombat? Play the piano? Done that. Tap dance—while playing the piano? Done THAT. Twirling a ball on a furry snout—while tap dancing and playing the piano? DONE THAT! Ferociously sweating Wally Wombat has had “ENOUGH!” Wylie Wombat can do everything he can, and maybe even better. If Wally can’t be the best, he won’t play at all. So there. Wally quickly realizes that a quiet life in his burrow, while nice, isn’t what he wishes for most of all. Wylie offers up a truce and chocolate chip cookies on a picnic blanket—playing alone isn’t quite as much fun as having a friendly competitor. Wally and Wylie set up their dueling pianos. Soon the overachieving marsupials unicycle and flamethrow to stardom under the eucalyptus tree. They are the best—until they aren’t….Tep’s encouraging message about doing what you love despite not being the greatest of all time will spur children to explore life’s joys just for the pleasure it brings. (Regardless of cheeky parachuting wombats.) Pintonato’s vividly detailed illustrations comically highlight the myriad emotions clashing across put-upon Wally’s face. The unifying motif of the picnic blanket–patterned endpapers cleverly foreshadows the conflict resolution to come. The illustrator’s skillful use of negative space emphasizes the escalating mayhem to hilarious effect. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

This rollicking fable will resonate with aficionados, dilettantes, and prodigies everywhere. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-64896-180-9

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press

Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2022

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

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THE COOL BEAN MAKES A SPLASH

From the I Can Read! series

by Jory John ; illustrated by Pete Oswald ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 26, 2024

Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind.

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The cool beans again step up to do a timorous fellow legume a fava…this time at the pool.

Will a rash decision to tackle the multistory super-slide lead to another embarrassing watery fail for our shy protagonist? Nope, for up the stairs right behind comes a trio of cool beans, each a different type and color, all clad in nothing but dark shades. They make an offer: “It’s not as scary if you go with friends!” As the knobby nerd explains once the thrilling ride down is done, “They all realized that I just needed some encouragement and support.” Just to make sure that both cool and uncool readers get the message, the narrator lets us know that “there are plenty of kind folks who have my back. They’re always there when I need them.” The beany bonhomie doesn’t end at the bottom of the slide, with all gliding down to the shallow end of the pool (“3 INCHES. NO DIVING”) for a splashy finale. This latest early reader starring characters from John and Oswald’s immensely popular Food Group series will be a hit with fans. Fun accessories, such as a bean who rocks pink cat-eye frames, add some pizzazz to the chromatically and somatotypically varied cast.

Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind. (Easy reader. 5-7)