The concluding quotation and the subtext of rebirth make this an oh-so-subtle Easter title that readers may well miss.
A charming baby bunny experiences seasonal changes in his environment throughout his first year of life in this emotion-filled story from the author of The Jesus Storybook Bible (2007).
In lyrical, soothing prose, the text follows the brown bunny through the four seasons, noting his observations of the changes in nature. The bunny is concerned by the changes he sees in the fall and by the seemingly dead appearance of trees, grass and flowers in winter. His parents and other animals reassure the bunny about the cycle of rebirth, and the bunny celebrates his springtime birthday with joy. Although the story can be interpreted as a Christian parable, there is no overt religious content until the final page, which includes a paraphrased quotation from Martin Luther about God’s promise of new life being revealed in springtime as well as in books, presumably the Bible. (The actual quotation is not included.) Due to the mostly secular appearance of the story, this odd placement means the book is likely to be overlooked by readers looking for religious approaches to springtime stories. Delicate watercolor illustrations in McPhail’s distinctive style are filled with delightful details and varied seasonal perspectives, as well as appealing rabbits and other creatures.
The concluding quotation and the subtext of rebirth make this an oh-so-subtle Easter title that readers may well miss. (Picture book/religion. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 15, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-310-73386-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Review Posted Online: Nov. 3, 2014
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together.
A clueless duckling tries to make a new friend.
He is confused by this peculiar-looking duck, who has a long tail, doesn’t waddle and likes to be alone. No matter how explicitly the creature denies he is a duck and announces that he is a cat, the duckling refuses to acknowledge the facts. When this creature expresses complete lack of interest in playing puddle stomp, the little ducking goes off and plays on his own. But the cat is not without remorse for rejecting an offered friendship. Of course it all ends happily, with the two new friends enjoying each other’s company. Bramsen employs brief sentences and the simplest of rhymes to tell this slight tale. The two heroes are meticulously drawn with endearing, expressive faces and body language, and their feathers and fur appear textured and touchable. Even the detailed tree bark and grass seem three-dimensional. There are single- and double-page spreads, panels surrounded by white space and circular and oval frames, all in a variety of eye-pleasing juxtapositions. While the initial appeal is solidly visual, young readers will get the gentle message that friendship is not something to take for granted but is to be embraced with open arms—or paws and webbed feet.
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-375-86990-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 13, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2012
Let these crayons go back into their box.
The Crayons return to celebrate Easter.
Six crayons (Red, Orange, Yellow, Esteban, who is green and wears a yellow cape, White, and Blue) each take a shape and scribble designs on it. Purple, perplexed and almost angry, keeps asking why no one is creating an egg, but the six friends have a great idea. They take the circle decorated with red shapes, the square adorned with orange squiggles “the color of the sun,” the triangle with yellow designs, also “the color of the sun” (a bit repetitious), a rectangle with green wavy lines, a white star, about which Purple remarks: “DID you even color it?” and a rhombus covered with blue markings and slap the shapes onto a big, light-brown egg. Then the conversation turns to hiding the large object in plain sight. The joke doesn’t really work, the shapes are not clear enough for a concept book, and though colors are delineated, it’s not a very original color book. There’s a bit of clever repartee. When Purple observe that Esteban’s green rectangle isn’t an egg, Esteban responds, “No, but MY GOSH LOOK how magnificent it is!” Still, that won’t save this lackluster book, which barely scratches the surface of Easter, whether secular or religious. The multimedia illustrations, done in the same style as the other series entries, are always fun, but perhaps it’s time to retire these anthropomorphic coloring implements. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Let these crayons go back into their box. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-62105-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2022
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