What begins as a visit to Uncle Dave’s new condominium, turns into an almost-magical adventure at the Castle Apartments. Winifred is the imaginative one, fervently hoping “the castle” comes complete with a moat and a spiky door. Eugene, her brother, would be happy with a mere television. Brenda, lovingly referred to as Bun Bun, has just begun toddling and it is her curiosity that sets the plot in motion. While their parents are busy with the doorman, Bun Bun steps into the elevator with Winifred hurrying after. The doors close. Trapped in the elevator, Bun Bun begins to cry while Winifred tries to comfort her as she’s seen Mommy do. Three times the doors open on the wrong floor and each time they meet with a different character befitting inhabitants of a castle. There’s a monster, a witch, and then a princess. The illustrations let the reader in on the real identity of the apartment occupant. The monster, for example, is an eager spotted dog. At last the hapless two meet the knight, in this case Uncle Dave, who tops off the occasion with a royal surprise. Scrimger and Johnson first combined their talents when they introduced these characters in Bun Bun’s Birthday (not reviewed). Drawn with humor, the artwork supplements the tale by illuminating half the story and adorns each page with willowy ink and watercolor pictures. This is a light but involving read that nicely portrays how a child can affect her environment for it is Winifred’s aplomb and fancy that keeps the situation from turning panicky. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: May 7, 2002
ISBN: 0-88776-543-2
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2002
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
A nice but not requisite purchase.
A retelling of the classic fairy tale in board-book format and with a Mexican setting.
Though simplified for a younger audience, the text still relates the well-known tale: mean-spirited stepmother, spoiled stepsisters, overworked Cinderella, fairy godmother, glass slipper, charming prince, and, of course, happily-ever-after. What gives this book its flavor is the artwork. Within its Mexican setting, the characters are olive-skinned and dark-haired. Cultural references abound, as when a messenger comes carrying a banner announcing a “FIESTA” in beautiful papel picado. Cinderella is the picture of beauty, with her hair up in ribbons and flowers and her typically Mexican many-layered white dress. The companion volume, Snow White, set in Japan and illustrated by Misa Saburi, follows the same format. The simplified text tells the story of the beautiful princess sent to the forest by her wicked stepmother to be “done away with,” the dwarves that take her in, and, eventually, the happily-ever-after ending. Here too, what gives the book its flavor is the artwork. The characters wear traditional clothing, and the dwarves’ house has the requisite shoji screens, tatami mats and cherry blossoms in the garden. The puzzling question is, why the board-book presentation? Though the text is simplified, it’s still beyond the board-book audience, and the illustrations deserve full-size books.
A nice but not requisite purchase. (Board book/fairy tale. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7915-8
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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