Whimsical settings, creatively imagined creatures, and nonstop action make this unplanned trip well worth taking.
Fantastically detailed paintings depict a young boy’s encounters with a variety of quirky characters as he travels through unfamiliar territories in this Swedish import.
Pale-skinned, towheaded Sam wakes to find himself in a forest. A number of friendly “small folk” surround him and offer assistance. A wise woman tells him to take the “yellow road” to get back home. As he walks, climbs, rides, sails, and even parachutes, a magical backpack gifted by the small folk holds an apparently endless supply of just what he needs at any given moment. As in previous works, Nordqvist’s ink, watercolor, and acrylic illustrations reward close attention; the artwork contains myriad items not referred to in the straightforward text. Miniature farms with insect livestock, fancifully built houses, the wise woman’s cluttered room, and an artist’s studio are particularly intriguing. A spontaneous dip in a soup-pot pool, an amusing underwater scene, and a frantic chase by assorted animated toys add humor to Sam’s journey. Encounters with (slightly) menacing trolls and talking animals contribute to the fairy-tale feel. Reminiscent of Remy Charlip’s Fortunately (1964), the episodic tale sees Sam experiencing both setbacks and serendipitous events. Once reassured by Sam’s arrival in familiar surroundings, youngsters will undoubtedly enjoy multiple readings—or at least some backtracking to pore over their favorite scenes.
Whimsical settings, creatively imagined creatures, and nonstop action make this unplanned trip well worth taking. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9781782509288
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Floris
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Powered by whimsy and nostalgia, a doggone adorable tale of superheroes transforming the world for the better.
Can flying puppies, fueled by people’s hugs, save the world from gloom?
Light-skinned Snarly McBummerpants is busy sending out Mopey Smokes (evil-looking dark brown clouds) from his volcano on the Island of Woe to create a sad state of affairs. But the caped puppies, each equipped with a rocket and hailing from “the outer reaches of NOT-FROM-HERE,” use their abilities to conquer the morose McBummerpants and bring happiness back to everyone’s lives. The meticulously detailed illustrations carry the story, dark colors turning to rainbow hues and frowns turning to smiles. From Big Brad to Tiny Brad, the smallest, most powerful puppy, who “[licks] a kiss right on the tip of Snarly McBummerpants’s nose,” these absolutely endearing pooches elicit a universal “AWWWWWWWWWW!” from all who encounter them. Joyce’s witty illustrations depict diverse children and adults who appear to hail from different decades. Two teenagers wear the bobby socks and saddle shoes of the 1940s and ’50s and sit atop a retro soda cooler. Other kids ride the skateboards of a later era. Laurel and Hardy, classic movie performers who may need introduction, are amusingly pictured as bullies turned florists (a little odd, since only Hardy bullied Laurel). Even McBummerpants seems reminiscent of an old-time movie villain. The text is less inventive than the pictures, but the message of good over evil is always timely.
Powered by whimsy and nostalgia, a doggone adorable tale of superheroes transforming the world for the better. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781665961332
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2024
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