A sure bet for a kid-tested, puppy-approved storytime.
Actor and author Witherspoon’s Busy Betty is back for another rollicking adventure.
Betty, a light-skinned child with enormous purple glasses and bouncy blond pigtails, always has “a MILLION questions and a BILLION ideas.” Betty’s latest idea is a big birthday surprise for Mom. To that end, Betty has enlisted best friends Mae (tan-skinned with dark hair) and Jeffrey (dark-skinned with soft locs) to help. First they list the things Betty’s mom likes. Then, exclaiming “Sweet cinnamon biscuits!” Betty lands on the idea of building a “humongous, tremendous, stupendous” backyard circus, starring the friends as clowns. The trio need costumes, makeup, a trapeze, a big tent, and most of all…a lion to tame—in the form of Betty’s dog, Frank, who is none too keen. Unfortunately, it turns out that Mom’s birthday isn’t until next month, but Betty knows just how to fix the situation. Witherspoon’s jaunty, vivid text and Yan’s pastel palette and exaggerated design effectively convey Betty’s energy and spontaneity, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with each dramatic page turn. The author and illustrator have created another familiar and easily resolved tale, likely setting the stage for an ongoing series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A sure bet for a kid-tested, puppy-approved storytime. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2023
ISBN: 9780593525128
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2023
SEEN & HEARD
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
BOOK REVIEW
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
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