A fable full of ancient wisdom, applicable to today’s world.
This picture-book adaptation of a tale by Wagamese sees an unassuming rabbit enter a leadership contest.
The story of Waabooz is a story in the author’s unfinished manuscript One Drum: Stories and Ceremonies for a Planet (published posthumously in 2019). When the Animal People of the Long Ago Time gather to determine who will be in charge, it’s the brash, boastful Horse, Buffalo, Cougar, and Wolverine who put themselves forth. They compete in an endurance race—four times around a lake through challenging terrain. Waabooz, a rabbit, also competes (notably the only female competitor), proceeding slowly and appreciating her surroundings, rather than trying to conquer them. Although the others pass her by, she gleans much wisdom and assists the others when their approach falters. Wagamese writes in straightforward but compelling prose that has the hypnotic style of oral storytelling: “all members of the animal kingdom were there: birds, reptiles, insects and all of the four-leggeds.” The book’s text-heavy quality may prove too daunting for younger readers. However, the images afford the narrative a timeless quality and a weightiness beyond words. George offers lush, dreamy, autumnal-hued artwork steeped in the artistic traditions of First Nations peoples. The animals are rendered semitransparent to reveal anatomical lines, which are themselves styled to evoke astrological constellations.
A fable full of ancient wisdom, applicable to today’s world.Pub Date: April 8, 2025
ISBN: 9781771624183
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre
Review Posted Online: Sept. 16, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among
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)Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-267527-9
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
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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
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