Hooray for teamwork, hard work, and friendship!
A cheerful group of anthropomorphic tools known as the Fix-Its learn about the value of a power nap.
One morning, the hand drill excitedly tells the two screwdrivers about a new arrival to the workbench. “Is that the brand-new, super-duper Power Drill?!” asks one of the screwdrivers. The three get to work while Power Drill finishes charging. The hand drill makes a hole, and a screwdriver turns a screw. It’s hard work. “Would you like some help?” asks Power Drill. Yes! “They’re so powerful, they didn’t even need to pre-drill!” says the hand drill while observing Power Drill’s work. Power Drill acknowledges the secret to their impressive speed and energy: “ELECTRICITY!” Like groupies gushing over a celebrity, the wide-eyed hand tools cut hilarious figures as they look on in awe. They take the opportunity to rest by basking under a lamp (“Relaxation looks good on us”), and they plan a party for Power Drill as thanks for all the work getting done. But Power Drill is slowing down, their “ziip” turning to an “urr…urp.” It takes several tools to hoist Power Drill back onto the charger to recover. Reul accomplishes a lot in the Fix-Its’ second graphic novel: She gives readers an up-close look at various woodworking tools, reminds them that rest and recharging are essential, and demonstrates the importance of respect and cooperation. The crisp panels and gently animated look of the workbench denizens add to the welcoming feel.
Hooray for teamwork, hard work, and friendship! (Graphic beginning reader. 4-8)Pub Date: Oct. 22, 2024
ISBN: 9780063295537
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HarperAlley
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Only for dedicated fans of the series.
When a kid gets the part of the ninja master in the school play, it finally seems to be the right time to tackle the closet monster.
“I spot my monster right away. / He’s practicing his ROAR. / He almost scares me half to death, / but I won’t be scared anymore!” The monster is a large, fluffy poison-green beast with blue hands and feet and face and a fluffy blue-and-green–striped tail. The kid employs a “bag of tricks” to try to catch the monster: in it are a giant wind-up shark, two cans of silly string, and an elaborate cage-and-robot trap. This last works, but with an unexpected result: the monster looks sad. Turns out he was only scaring the boy to wake him up so they could be friends. The monster greets the boy in the usual monster way: he “rips a massive FART!!” that smells like strawberries and lime, and then they go to the monster’s house to meet his parents and play. The final two spreads show the duo getting ready for bed, which is a rather anticlimactic end to what has otherwise been a rambunctious tale. Elkerton’s bright illustrations have a TV-cartoon aesthetic, and his playful beast is never scary. The narrator is depicted with black eyes and hair and pale skin. Wallace’s limping verses are uninspired at best, and the scansion and meter are frequently off.
Only for dedicated fans of the series. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4926-4894-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, if oft-told, story.
A plush toy rabbit bonds with a boy and watches him grow into adulthood.
The boy receives the blue bunny for his birthday and immediately becomes attached to it. Unbeknownst to him, the ungendered bunny is sentient; it engages in dialogue with fellow toys, giving readers insight into its thoughts. The bunny's goal is to have grand adventures when the boy grows up and no longer needs its company. The boy spends many years playing imaginatively with the bunny, holding it close during both joyous and sorrowful times and taking it along on family trips. As a young man, he marries, starts a family, and hands over the beloved toy to his toddler-aged child in a crib. The bunny's epiphany—that he does not need to wait for great adventures since all his dreams have already come true in the boy's company—is explicitly stated in the lengthy text, which is in many ways similar to The Velveteen Rabbit (1922). The illustrations, which look hand-painted but were digitally created, are moderately sentimental with an impressionistic dreaminess (one illustration even includes a bunny-shaped cloud in the sky) and a warm glow throughout. The depiction of a teenage male openly displaying his emotions—hugging his beloved childhood toy for example—is refreshing. All human characters present as White expect for one of the boy’s friends who is Black.
A sweet, if oft-told, story. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72825-448-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2022
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