This simple, endearing story has universal appeal.
A seemingly ordinary guinea pig becomes extraordinary through the nurturing love of the family who adopts her.
It’s not often that you get to read a guinea pig’s autobiography. Especially one with ambitions to be not only seen, but heard. When a young girl named Lisa adopts the narrator and names her Peggy, it is understood not only that Lisa believes in Peggy, but that Peggy recognizes Lisa as special as well. Soon Peggy and Lisa take turns listening to each other, sharing family routines, and navigating the challenges of the surrounding world. Peggy even learns to climb stairs and to walk with a leash. Peggy’s consistent and persistent efforts reflect the advice of Lisa’s mother: “The difficult is done immediately. The impossible takes a little longer.” Eventually Peggy wins public recognition for her accomplishments. Multiaward winner Roy Miki is a member of the Order of Canada, and this is the second children’s book he has written with his wife, Slavia Miki. The story is based on true events in the life of the Mikis’ daughter and is enhanced by Ando’s appealing line-and-color illustrations. Lisa is biracial, with an East Asian dad and White mom; Peggy is completely adorable, with white fur and pink eyes, ears, and feet. There’s art on every spread; it combines with the short chapters to make this an especially apt choice for transitioning readers.
This simple, endearing story has universal appeal. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-926890-21-0
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Tradewind Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for...
A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility.
Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. When Gavin’s desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. “After all, it isn’t his fault that Danielle’s snow globe got broken. Sure, he shouldn’t have been in her room—but then, she shouldn’t be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. Anybody would be tempted. Anybody!” opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle’s yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English (Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener.
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Dec. 17, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-547-97044-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2013
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look...
Winning actually isn’t everything, as jazz-happy Rooster learns when he goes up against the legendary likes of Mules Davis and Ella Finchgerald at the barnyard talent show.
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look good—particularly after his “ ‘Hen from Ipanema’ [makes] / the barnyard chickies swoon.”—but in the end the competition is just too stiff. No matter: A compliment from cool Mules and the conviction that he still has the world’s best band soon puts the strut back in his stride. Alexander’s versifying isn’t always in tune (“So, he went to see his cousin, / a pianist of great fame…”), and despite his moniker Rooster plays an electric bass in Bower’s canted country scenes. Children are unlikely to get most of the jokes liberally sprinkled through the text, of course, so the adults sharing it with them should be ready to consult the backmatter, which consists of closing notes on jazz’s instruments, history and best-known musicians.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-58536-688-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
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