A perfect story to help children learn about the importance of opening their hearts.
Home is more than a place; it’s a feeling that builds in your heart.
Found on the ground near a goat, Yula, who’s about 4, is afraid and alone. She can’t walk, and her understanding of language is limited. Then along comes a nice lady who calls herself Mum. She cares for Yula in the warmth and safety of her home. And once Yula can manage, Mum takes her to a school for orphans and leaves. The whole wide world is opening quickly for Yula. She is happy. And then...Mum returns with a little boy. Yula struggles with her emotions. She doesn’t understand why Mum is holding another child’s hand, so she lashes out, then runs away before finally coming to understand the power of sharing her heart and her home. Jennings’ tender story rings true and swirls with old-fashioned warmth. Campbell relies on a palette of earthy tones enriched with warm yellows and golds, punctuated with pops of green. She demonstrates the range of Yula’s emotions with minimal strokes. Together, art and text create a moving tale about a special little girl. Characters are Black, and on the dedication page, Jennings thanks two individuals who introduced her to the children of Hope Development Center, an orphanage in Kenya. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A perfect story to help children learn about the importance of opening their hearts. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 31, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-88995-575-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Red Deer Press
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2022
This bunny escapes all the traps but fails to find a logical plot or an emotional connection with readers.
The bestselling series (How to Catch an Elf, 2016, etc.) about capturing mythical creatures continues with a story about various ways to catch the Easter Bunny as it makes its annual deliveries.
The bunny narrates its own story in rhyming text, beginning with an introduction at its office in a manufacturing facility that creates Easter eggs and candy. The rabbit then abruptly takes off on its delivery route with a tiny basket of eggs strapped to its back, immediately encountering a trap with carrots and a box propped up with a stick. The narrative focuses on how the Easter Bunny avoids increasingly complex traps set up to catch him with no explanation as to who has set the traps or why. These traps include an underground tunnel, a fluorescent dance floor with a hidden pit of carrots, a robot bunny, pirates on an island, and a cannon that shoots candy fish, as well as some sort of locked, hazardous site with radiation danger. Readers of previous books in the series will understand the premise, but others will be confused by the rabbit’s frenetic escapades. Cartoon-style illustrations have a 1960s vibe, with a slightly scary, bow-tied bunny with chartreuse eyes and a glowing palette of neon shades that shout for attention.
This bunny escapes all the traps but fails to find a logical plot or an emotional connection with readers. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4926-3817-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Jan. 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2017
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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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