Proving size does not matter, this itty-bitty witch casts a bewitching spell.
Big dreams come in itty-bitty packages.
Betty is excited for her “first day as a first-grade witch.” Black-haired with a light brown complexion and small in stature, Betty is teased by classmates Abby and Sam (both white) for still using a “kinder-broom,” and they nickname her “Itty Bitty.” “My name is Betty,” she protests. When the class learns about the annual broom-riding race, or Halloween Dash, for the whole first grade, Betty decides she must win, thinking the name-calling will cease if she does. “SWOOSH! WHOOSH! / UH-OH!” Despite testing such flying strategies as a running start and nose-dives during practice, Betty fails, feeling “itty-bitty inside.” Undeterred, Betty maps out her race course and strategizes for the big day. Shaskan utilizes onomatopoeia and smartly placed rhymes to narrate Betty’s emotional journey as she battles her own self-doubts. Yan brings as much action and pop to the tale with her warm-toned digital renderings of Betty’s diverse classmates and teacher. All characters are portrayed with round heads and cartoonish, large eyes, and streaks of glittering bright colors trail behind their brooms. It is when Betty finally realizes that her perceived shortcomings are actually an advantage that she wins the acceptance of her peers—and, more importantly, herself. Caregivers and teachers will be pleased with the multiple extensions the story offers, all wrapped up in a Halloween theme.
Proving size does not matter, this itty-bitty witch casts a bewitching spell. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: July 16, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5420-4123-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Two Lions
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This bunny escapes all the traps but fails to find a logical plot or an emotional connection with readers.
The bestselling series (How to Catch an Elf, 2016, etc.) about capturing mythical creatures continues with a story about various ways to catch the Easter Bunny as it makes its annual deliveries.
The bunny narrates its own story in rhyming text, beginning with an introduction at its office in a manufacturing facility that creates Easter eggs and candy. The rabbit then abruptly takes off on its delivery route with a tiny basket of eggs strapped to its back, immediately encountering a trap with carrots and a box propped up with a stick. The narrative focuses on how the Easter Bunny avoids increasingly complex traps set up to catch him with no explanation as to who has set the traps or why. These traps include an underground tunnel, a fluorescent dance floor with a hidden pit of carrots, a robot bunny, pirates on an island, and a cannon that shoots candy fish, as well as some sort of locked, hazardous site with radiation danger. Readers of previous books in the series will understand the premise, but others will be confused by the rabbit’s frenetic escapades. Cartoon-style illustrations have a 1960s vibe, with a slightly scary, bow-tied bunny with chartreuse eyes and a glowing palette of neon shades that shout for attention.
This bunny escapes all the traps but fails to find a logical plot or an emotional connection with readers. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4926-3817-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Jan. 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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