THE KOOKY KINKAJOU

Bismark again finds himself on the outside as a new nocturnal animal introduces herself to his group.

The sugar glider is bored. Dawn, a red fox, says he just needs to use his imagination. As if on cue, Karina the kinkajou arrives. Bismark doesn’t appreciate her vibrant imagination. He calls both her and her “sparkle sprites” (aka fireflies) “kooky,” later saying she is “full of ballyhoo” and telling her, “I think you are cuckoo.” This comes after the trio of friends has followed Karina over a stone-path “river,” under a weeping-willow “waterfall,” and past a tree-trunk “rainbow” on the way to a “sparkle sprite spectacular.” Tobin the pangolin gleefully joins in with the imaginative fun, Bismark remains skeptical, and Dawn, a sage look on her face, seems to take the role of adult. After Bismark’s furious outburst, Karina hugs him, explains “We’re just finding fun things to do!” and then “flies” across a “canyon.” Tobin and Dawn follow, and Bismark has to choose between being “a little kooky, too,” or being bored alone. Yee’s animation-inspired illustrations do little to extend the tale other than overportraying Bismark’s bad attitude and anger. Backmatter includes factual information about each of the nocturnal animals and a glossary of “kooky words.” Unfortunately, there is no mention of mental health, bullying, or the hurtful nature of the words Bismark uses.

Imagination can surely overcome boredom, but the unkindness in this book isn’t imaginary.