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OLD MAN OF THE SEA

Name: OLD MAN OF THE SEA
Author: Stella Elia
ISBN: 978-1-911373-54-4

by Stella Elia ; illustrated by Weberson Santiago ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 3, 2019

A masterpiece.

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A grandson recounts his grandpa’s love for the sea and worldwide adventures in this Brazilian import.

“Every line on my skin tells the story of my life,” Grandpa tells his narrating grandson before he begins sharing his life’s story. With the help of Santiago’s striking illustrations, Elia shows this old salt’s love for each land he visited in his youth as a sailor. Grandpa shares his travels from Europe, where he “ate picnics in groves of olive trees,” to Africa, where he “climbed sand dunes to watch the sun go down.” From Asia to Oceania and finally America, Santiago’s vibrant palette depicts famous landmarks and animals in each of the five continents (North and South America are considered as one, and Antarctica doesn’t make an appearance). With a touch of the fantastical, the narrative carries readers over the oceans as Grandpa’s ship rides the hump of a whale from continent to continent and Grandpa collects stories. While at sea, the vastness provides a calm and contemplative blue space, with Grandpa’s boat urging readers to turn the page. Like the grandson, readers might also wonder if Grandpa’s stories are true, but it won’t matter as this gorgeous story will have them returning to the beginning of the book to once again embark on the journey. Both grandfather and grandson have brown skin; by originating Grandpa’s travels outside of Europe, the story interestingly complicates questions of imperialism.

A masterpiece. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-911373-54-4

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Lantana

Review Posted Online: July 13, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ACTION & ADVENTURE FICTION | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

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HANSEL AND GRETEL

by Stephen King ; illustrated by Maurice Sendak ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 2, 2025

Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators.

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Existing artwork from an artistic giant inspires a fairy-tale reimagination by a master of the horror genre.

In King’s interpretation of a classic Brothers Grimm story, which accompanies set and costume designs that the late Sendak created for a 1997 production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera, siblings Hansel and Gretel survive abandonment in the woods and an evil witch’s plot to gobble them up before finding their “happily ever after” alongside their father. Prose with the reassuring cadence of an old-timey tale, paired with Sendak’s instantly recognizable artwork, will lull readers before capitalizing on these creators’ knack for injecting darkness into seemingly safe spaces. Gaping faces loom in crevices of rocks and trees, and a gloomy palette of muted greens and ocher amplify the story’s foreboding tone, while King never sugarcoats the peach-skinned children’s peril. Branches with “clutching fingers” hide “the awful enchanted house” of a “child-stealing witch,” all portrayed in an eclectic mix of spot and full-bleed images. Featuring insults that might strike some as harsh (“idiot,” “fool”), the lengthy, dense text may try young readers’ patience, and the often overwhelmingly ominous mood feels more pitched to adults—particularly those familiar with King and Sendak—but an introduction acknowledges grandparents as a likely audience, and nostalgia may prompt leniency over an occasional disconnect between words and art.

Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025

ISBN: 9780062644695

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2025

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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HOW TO CATCH A MONSTER

From the How To Catch… series

by Adam Wallace ; illustrated by Andy Elkerton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2017

Only for dedicated fans of the series.

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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)