Perfect as a gift book exchanged between kindred spirits, this could also spark interesting conversations about the role of...
A chance meeting that leads to a lasting friendship is lauded in rhyming text and jaunty illustrations.
Verde celebrates not just the bond between best friends, but also the somewhat abstract concept of serendipity by describing experiences that might have brought about a different result on the day she is describing. “What if I had slept in..?” or “...the weather had been stormy gray?” or “a rock in my shoe / had caused me to pause/ for a moment or two.” Simple language, small touches of humor and an engagingly earnest tone enable her to keep things sweet without descending into the overly saccharine or sentimental, but it still seems likely that her message will resonate more with adults than children. Reynolds’ artwork, created using ink, gouache, watercolor and tea (an unusual but appropriately cozy medium for an ode to friendship), brings Verde’s words down to earth and cheerfully to life. His pictures chronicle the accidental encounter and subsequent shared activities of a lanky, androgynous, anthropomorphic yellow cat and a purple feline of similar proportions. Illuminating and expanding the action, amusing tableaux offer charming details and some slyly humorous misdirection. The cats’ faces, though simply drawn, are expressive and appealing.
Perfect as a gift book exchanged between kindred spirits, this could also spark interesting conversations about the role of chance in our lives. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Jan. 6, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4197-1197-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2014
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet notion that falls flat.
A hit song reimagined as a book about parental love.
Featured in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1, Perri’s “A Thousand Years” deals with the speaker’s fear of romantic love. In picture-book form, it explores a parent’s unwavering love for a child, who grows from an infant into a toddler over the course of the narrative. The caregiver expresses awe when the youngster learns to stand and fear that the child might fall while beginning to walk. “I have spent every day waiting for you,” the parent says. “Darling, don’t be afraid.” What the child might fear isn’t clear from the joyful balloon- and rainbow-filled illustrations. The story borders on cloying, and words that might work when sung and accompanied by music don’t sound fresh on the page: “Time goes by. / You grow ever stronger as you fly.” The refrain, however, is a lovely sentiment: “I have loved you for a thousand years. / I’ll love you for a thousand more.” Perri’s legion of fans may flock to this version, illustrated by Ruiz with sparkling stars, bubbles, and big-eyed toddlers, but it doesn’t hold together as a narrative or an ode, as it’s billed, and it’s a long way from the original song. The child is tan-skinned, the parent is lighter-skinned, and other characters are diverse.
A sweet notion that falls flat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9780593622599
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
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