Sweet, reassuring fun, especially for dog lovers.
The fortunes of a pampered pooch are overturned when a newcomer arrives.
His guardian’s only pet, Big Dog leads a sweet life. Big Dog walks his owner, blithely ignores commands, and displays affection at every opportunity. Yep, life’s good, albeit—Big Dog admits—lonely sometimes, and days can seem really long. One day, the pair encounter an owner with a diminutive pup. For Big Dog, life takes a decidedly lousy turn when the humans spend more time with each other and eventually move in together, the little pup naturally joining the household. But Little Dog doesn’t fit in: He’s slow and doesn’t heed commands. Jealous of the cute new family member, Big Dog decides it’s time for Little Dog to go and proceeds with a nefarious plot to expose him as a messy troublemaker. When a load of doggy-doo is found on the rug, the fed-up humans—wise to Big Dog’s chicanery—banish him outdoors. But what’s this? Little Dog won’t sleep without Big Dog beside him—and soon Little Dog learns to “obey” commands as well as his bigger sib does. Best of all, days don’t seem long anymore. This good-natured, simply told Australian import treads very familiar ground, but it will particularly resonate with children grappling with feelings of displacement at, say, a new sibling’s arrival. The colorful illustrations are energetic, with Big Dog especially expressive. Big Dog’s owner is White, while Little Dog’s owner is brown-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Sweet, reassuring fun, especially for dog lovers. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-68464-383-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kane Miller
Review Posted Online: March 29, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
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
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