A canine ode, ideal for poodle and doodle lovers (and froodles).
Calmenson’s latest rhyming book is a celebration of dogs, with some lessons on colors thrown in.
The dogs that appear here include both poodles and doodles (a mix of a poodle and another breed); they’re gathering for a Poodle Doodle Party. Each one brings, plays with, or interacts with something colorful, giving readers an introduction to both the basic colors (plus black, brown, white, and pink) and the general look of each breed. A poodle with a pink ribbon turns heads with a new haircut, an eager goldendoodle speeds around with the aid of his red wheelchair, and a beautifully patterned aussiedoodle proudly carries his long brown stick all over the park. The book’s ending takes a turn toward lessons in inclusion when a dachshund’s arrival initially sparks discord, but he’s quickly accepted as a froodle (“friend + oodle”). While the rhythms can be hit or miss and the complexity of the dog breeds may make learning about colors a bit challenging for younger readers, the cartoon illustrations are eye-catching and cheery; they keep the focus on the dogs, the colors, and the emotions. The child owners and their adults are racially diverse, and one adult woman wears a headscarf. The backmatter explores poodle varieties, the history of the first doodle, doodle combinations, and the book’s real-life inspiration.
A canine ode, ideal for poodle and doodle lovers (and froodles). (Picture/concept book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2024
ISBN: 9781547612277
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
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
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together.
A clueless duckling tries to make a new friend.
He is confused by this peculiar-looking duck, who has a long tail, doesn’t waddle and likes to be alone. No matter how explicitly the creature denies he is a duck and announces that he is a cat, the duckling refuses to acknowledge the facts. When this creature expresses complete lack of interest in playing puddle stomp, the little ducking goes off and plays on his own. But the cat is not without remorse for rejecting an offered friendship. Of course it all ends happily, with the two new friends enjoying each other’s company. Bramsen employs brief sentences and the simplest of rhymes to tell this slight tale. The two heroes are meticulously drawn with endearing, expressive faces and body language, and their feathers and fur appear textured and touchable. Even the detailed tree bark and grass seem three-dimensional. There are single- and double-page spreads, panels surrounded by white space and circular and oval frames, all in a variety of eye-pleasing juxtapositions. While the initial appeal is solidly visual, young readers will get the gentle message that friendship is not something to take for granted but is to be embraced with open arms—or paws and webbed feet.
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-375-86990-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 13, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2012
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