An enjoyable, if well-trod, adventure.
A grocery list left on the table subtly foreshadows a nighttime quest for comestibles.
It’s dinnertime, and like so many kids, Sir Julian, a tan-skinned child, is not impressed with his mom’s experimental cooking, opting to feed it to the dog. Predictably, this leads to the need for snacks. Sir Julian’s evening—beginning with his supper, which smells “like dragon’s ooze”—mimics a hero’s journey as he vanquishes foes and fears, among them the dreaded potty monster, on the way to his final destination: the kitchen. To his horror, he discovers that the family is out of snacks, rendering his perilous journey moot—or is it? For when Sir Julian, left with no other options, tries the dreadful dinner, he finds it…not bad. Perhaps the real quest is being open to trying new things. Food avoidance, bathroom fears, and nighttime worry are familiar and welcome themes in picture books, and this one, though a bit predictable, is no exception. Digital art effectively depicts Sir Julian’s wide range of emotions, from trepidation to terror to triumph, but feels a bit artificial. Adult readers assessing (among other things) how loud this nighttime journey must have been may wonder where the grown-ups in this book are, but kids will enjoy comic nods like the overly dramatic depiction of the unfamiliar—and therefore—monstrous dinner. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An enjoyable, if well-trod, adventure. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2023
ISBN: 9780316456340
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson/Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together.
A clueless duckling tries to make a new friend.
He is confused by this peculiar-looking duck, who has a long tail, doesn’t waddle and likes to be alone. No matter how explicitly the creature denies he is a duck and announces that he is a cat, the duckling refuses to acknowledge the facts. When this creature expresses complete lack of interest in playing puddle stomp, the little ducking goes off and plays on his own. But the cat is not without remorse for rejecting an offered friendship. Of course it all ends happily, with the two new friends enjoying each other’s company. Bramsen employs brief sentences and the simplest of rhymes to tell this slight tale. The two heroes are meticulously drawn with endearing, expressive faces and body language, and their feathers and fur appear textured and touchable. Even the detailed tree bark and grass seem three-dimensional. There are single- and double-page spreads, panels surrounded by white space and circular and oval frames, all in a variety of eye-pleasing juxtapositions. While the initial appeal is solidly visual, young readers will get the gentle message that friendship is not something to take for granted but is to be embraced with open arms—or paws and webbed feet.
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-375-86990-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 13, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2012
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