Doggie devotees will be clamoring for further adventures.
A corgi sets out to find the right career.
“Maxine had always known she was talented. She just didn’t know what her talent was.” Searching the internet, the perky pooch learns about dogs with jobs and decides to follow suit. First she talks to her best friend, Lady, who works as a lifeguard at the beach. Maxine is sure she could be the fluffiest lifeguard in the world—although she forgets something important: her aversion to swimming. Next, she consults her friend Toby, a guard dog who watches over the chickens on a farm. Maxine is certain she could be the fiercest chicken protector on the planet…but the wolves laugh at her tiny, fluffy body and her less-than-impressive bark. Maxine considers her other working friends—Rosie the sled dog, Dale the racing dog—but knows she wouldn’t be well suited to those jobs, either. Then she realizes that they’re all doing what they love. What does Maxine love? She enjoys playing funny characters and shaking her fluffy butt…could that be a career? Turns out the answer is yes, and Maxine becomes a stand-up comedian! Based on the authors’ actual dog, who has a huge social media following, Maxine’s a winning protagonist who learns a sound lesson: Following your passion is a surefire recipe for success. Batori’s digitally created illustrations of adorable employed cartoon pooches are a perfect comedic match.
Doggie devotees will be clamoring for further adventures. (Picture book. 2-7)Pub Date: May 7, 2024
ISBN: 9780593642917
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2024
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Serve this superbly designed title to all who relish slightly scary stories.
Kids know vegetables can be scary, but rarely are edible roots out to get someone. In this whimsical mock-horror tale, carrots nearly frighten the whiskers off Jasper Rabbit, an interloper at Crackenhopper Field.
Jasper loves carrots, especially those “free for the taking.” He pulls some in the morning, yanks out a few in the afternoon, and comes again at night to rip out more. Reynolds builds delicious suspense with succinct language that allows understatements to be fully exploited in Brown’s hilarious illustrations. The cartoon pictures, executed in pencil and then digitally colored, are in various shades of gray and serve as a perfectly gloomy backdrop for the vegetables’ eerie orange on each page. “Jasper couldn’t get enough carrots … / … until they started following him.” The plot intensifies as Jasper not only begins to hear the veggies nearby, but also begins to see them everywhere. Initially, young readers will wonder if this is all a product of Jasper’s imagination. Was it a few snarling carrots or just some bathing items peeking out from behind the shower curtain? The ending truly satisfies both readers and the book’s characters alike. And a lesson on greed goes down like honey instead of a forkful of spinach.
Serve this superbly designed title to all who relish slightly scary stories. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 21, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0297-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 1, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2012
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