Though kindness is a quality to be celebrated, this particular vehicle is, alas, forgettable
A sweeter-than-sweet tale of a little bunny who gets her Christmas wish.
Snow Bunny lives by herself in a tree in the forest. Though she whistles happy tunes, she is very lonely, so she writes a letter to Santa asking for a friend. “This is the only present I truly want.” Missing the mail “by a whisker,” she resolves to set out for the North Pole on foot, equipping herself with a pair of mittens, some frosted cookies and a map. On her way, she meets a bear cub with cold paws, a little fox with no Christmas-tree decorations and some lost fawns. “Kindly” giving away her mittens, cookies and map, she reaches the North Pole without further incident. Santa gives her a ride home, where, to no one’s astonishment but hers, she finds all of her new friends waiting. The soft-edged paintings depict a wintry but nonetheless cozy forest liberally decorated with silver foil accents. Children will wonder why so manifestly nice a bunny is friendless and why she bothers writing to Santa at all since she lives within easy walking distance. The dialogue is stilted at best—“I’ll take you home on my way delivering presents and making wishes come true around the world,” Santa tells Snow Bunny—and his sleigh is drawn by only six reindeer.
Though kindness is a quality to be celebrated, this particular vehicle is, alas, forgettable . (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-545-54103-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Aug. 13, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2013
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
A good choice for offering comfort and support to a budding perfectionist.
Can anyone be perfect?
Beatrice Bottomwell always does everything right. “Most people in town didn’t even know Beatrice’s name. They just called her ‘The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes,’ because for as long as anyone could remember, she never did.” One Thursday though, she almost does something wrong (she drops some eggs while cooking at school but catches them just in time). Straightforward text describes Beatrice’s predicament as, unnerved, she ponders her almost-error and begins to worry. What if she really does do something wrong? Brightly colored watercolors and gentle humor combine to portray Beatrice’s eventful day, her growing fear and her sprightly pet hamster. During a school talent show, Beatrice finally makes a real mistake—in front of everyone. How will she cope? Learning how to relax enough to laugh and simply be herself just might do the trick. While the plot is predictable and the solution to the problem fairly pat, this is a well-intentioned story, full of acceptance and goodwill. It will be especially useful in a therapeutic setting; it may be a real comfort to a child who is afraid of making mistakes, while children dealing with similar issues will also find reassurance here.
A good choice for offering comfort and support to a budding perfectionist. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4022-5544-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2011
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