A welcome reminder that there are myriad ways to celebrate the holidays we love.
A child and her father pick out the perfect Christmas tree.
Nisha wants a huge tree (“As tall as a camel! As wide as an elephant!”), but Baba wants a small one that he can easily carry up the stairs to their Brooklyn apartment. Still, the tree will need to hold the many decorations the family has inherited: red elephants and blue camels from India, Baba’s country of origin; icicles from Maine, where Mommy’s parents live. Nisha and Baba reach a compromise: They find a relatively small tree that fits Nisha’s requirements. Holding up two of her favorite ornaments, she confirms that the tree is indeed as wide as an elephant and as tall as a camel. Back at home, Baba, Mommy, and Nisha decorate the tree; Nisha’s thrilled that she’s tall enough to reach the upper branches this year. The tale ends with Nisha and her parents celebrating: Baba plays a Christmas carol on the sitar, while Mommy serves cookies and burfi. The story is lyrical, full of humor and heart. With her exaggerated facial expressions and posture, Nisha cuts an endearing figure in Pillai’s bustling art. In their authors’ note, Meyer and Mehta discuss the importance of blending cultural traditions (Baba is Hindu; white-presenting Mommy is Christian)—though this theme feels underexplored in the narrative. Still, it’s a delightful, festive tale overall.
A welcome reminder that there are myriad ways to celebrate the holidays we love. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Sept. 24, 2024
ISBN: 9781506496467
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Beaming Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 8, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2024
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It’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how many mediocre sequels you can squeeze out of Seussian property.
Since a reformed Grinch is hardly any fun, this follow-up Grinches him up once more.
Those seeking more of the same, prepare to receive precisely that. Christmas is coming (again!), and the Grinch can hardly wait. He’s been patient all year, and now he can finally show the Whos down in Who-ville how much he’s changed. When the Grinch learns of a tree-decorating contest, he figures that if he wins, it’ll prove he truly has the Christmas spirit. He throws himself into the task, but when it comes time to judge the trees, the Grinch is horrified to discover that he’s received only the second-place trophy. Can Cindy-Lou Who find the words to save the day? Replicating many of the original beats and wordplay of the original, this tale feels like less a sequel and more like a vaguely rewritten variation. Meanwhile, Ruiz’s art seeks to bridge the gap between the animated Chuck Jones version of the Grinch and the one depicted in the original book. This thankless task results in a strange uncanny valley between Seuss and Jones but does allow the artist a chance to colorize everything and lend some racial diversity to the Who population (Cindy-Lou is light-skinned). (This book was reviewed digitally.)
It’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how many mediocre sequels you can squeeze out of Seussian property. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9780593563168
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2023
Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
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BOOK REVIEW
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