TUBA LESSONS

Name: TUBA LESSONS
Author: T.C. Bartlett
ISBN: 978-0898125221

by T.C. Bartlett & illustrated by Monique Felix ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1997

Whimsical animals and ingenious compositions provide more fun, but this is serious art: Felix plays maestro to Bartlett's...

bookshelf

Music soothes the savage beast in this near-wordless picture book about a boy on his way to a tuba lesson.

The tuba is about as big as the boy, who's warned not to ``dillydally'' in the woods, or he'll be late. He trots along a road of five lines, which looks suspiciously like a music staff; one line curves up to become a tree, which he first climbs and then naps under. A squirrel in the tree creates a giant musical note by fooling with the tuba; a host of critters poke their noses out of hiding places in the lines of the road. Soon there's a rollicking concert in the woods, interrupted by a ticked-off bear, who eventually succumbs to the music. There's a genial conspiracy between readers and the book's characters in the delight of dawdling, and a variety of events cleverly pace the book. Felix's illustrations are drawn on oatmeal-colored paper, which shows through the lines and smudges of pastel.

Whimsical animals and ingenious compositions provide more fun, but this is serious art: Felix plays maestro to Bartlett's utterly childlike notions. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1997

ISBN: 978-0898125221

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Harcourt

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1997

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY

- BOOK REVIEW
Eat, Eat, Eat! Cheese, Cheese, Cheese!
written and illustrated by T.C. Bartlett

- BOOK REVIEW
Birds Fly A Cat Tries
by T.C. Bartlett

- BOOK REVIEW
THE GOOD WITCH OF THE SOUTH
by T.C. Bartlett

bookshelf

THE SECRET SOCIETY OF AUNTS & UNCLES

by Jake Gyllenhaal & Greta Caruso ; illustrated by Dan Santat ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 5, 2023

Warm but underdone.

bookshelf

In this picture book from actor Gyllenhaal and his partner, Caruso, a child and his uncle bond on a fantastic journey.

Leo, an avid dancer, is dismayed when Uncle Mo visits—he’s in town for a “rubber band convention.” Illustrations show both with wavy brown hair and light tan skin. Not only does Leo think his uncle is rather dull, he’s also leery of Uncle Mo’s many rules. A rather abrupt narrative shift occurs when the pair inexplicably drive into another dimension. Here they encounter Great-Aunt Gloria (who is very tall and presents Black) and Uncle Munkle Carbunkle (who is very short and light-skinned), who guide them through the Secret Society of Aunts & Uncles. Unimpressed with Uncle Mo, Great-Aunt Gloria says he must take a quiz on “Auntieology and Uncleology.” After several wrong answers, Uncle Mo has a final chance at redemption: He must state his nephew’s favorite activity. When Leo springs into action to dance for his clueless uncle, a mishap leaves him mortified and un-bespectacled. Enter Uncle Mo to save the day by using a rubber band to secure Leo’s glasses. While Santat’s energetic illustrations do much to clarify the narrative, they can’t fully make up for the disjointed storytelling—it’s never clear why the two have entered this dimension or why Leo is suddenly so eager to help Uncle Mo. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Warm but underdone. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023

ISBN: 9781250776990

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY

bookshelf

THE MOST BORING BOOK EVER

by Brandon Sanderson ; illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 24, 2024

Sky-based pyrotechnics make for a fun if somewhat confusing telling.

bookshelf

In this collaboration between sci-fi novelist Sanderson and Amulet creator Kibuishi, an unreliable narrator informs readers that here be no dragons.

“A boy sat in a chair.” The book opens on a bespectacled, light-skinned child in old-fashioned attire. The narration continues, “That’s it. He just sat in a chair,” while on the opposite page, the boy’s chair has unexpectedly whisked him heavenward. The narrator attempts to convince readers that just sitting in a chair is boring. As the story continues, however, the boy is attacked by an array of sky ruffians operating vessels; fight scenes and impressive explosions ensue. A dragon makes an appearance as the narrator drones on about how dull the story is. Kibuishi’s detailed cartoon images depict an enticing steampunk-esque world. Adults reading this book to kids might want to read the text first without the pictures; on a second run they can show off the images, neatly illustrating the important interplay of text and visuals in sequential art. Unfortunately, for all that the illustrations maintain the action at a fair clip, near the end the plot grows muddled as the boy gets out of his chair but then tumbles to the ground: Was he falling and then trying to stop himself? Some adult intervention may be required to clarify what precisely is happening on the page.

Sky-based pyrotechnics make for a fun if somewhat confusing telling. (Picture book. 4-7)