Doggy devotees will enjoy this tale of a pooch finding the silver lining in a seemingly dire situation.
Will Emma survive the dreaded cone?
When Emma, a fluffy poodle, leaves the vet with her human, there’s a funny, clear lampshade around her neck. At first, she assumes she’s just caught in something (like that unfortunate incident with the lawn chair). But this time she can’t get the offending object off. Emma tries “to wreck it (she was the best at wrecking).” But the cone stays on. Her human tells her that the cone is “for her own good”…but it gets in the way when she tries to walk or dig. Emma sulks. Then she realizes that playing catch is far easier this way—the cone can hold all the balls her owner tosses. She finds a new way to dig, and the cone acts as a helmet when she tumbles down the stairs. The cone isn’t so bad…but she still has one problem: Keith, a cheeky squirrel who loves to tease her. Emma wishes she could give him a good scare. Turns out with a little patience, some snow, and, of course, her cone, she can do just that! Howden and Mok team up for a companion to their Cone Cat (2020) to show how a canine companion might deal with a cone. Emma’s personality comes through in Howden’s simple, tongue-in-cheek text and in Mok’s hilarious cartoon illustrations. Emma’s pale-skinned human is never named, but the two obviously care for each other. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Doggy devotees will enjoy this tale of a pooch finding the silver lining in a seemingly dire situation. (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2023
ISBN: 9781771475143
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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