Sincerely celebrates kindness and comfort.
Ollie, a friendly teddy bear, has the best job ever: taking care of “his girl, Amena.”
One night while Amena sleeps, a silver sailboat appears at her window with an old teddy bear at the helm, there to take Ollie to the Teddy Bears’ Picnic for his very first time. At the picnic, Ollie meets “teddies of all shapes and sizes” and is introduced to some of them—“Scottie, from the Department of Bedtime Planning; Mr. Pants, Chief Cuddling Officer”—before participating in “bearaoke” and the other activities. While VanSickle’s playful use of corporate-speak describes and connects the personality of each bear with its name, Hanson reinforces this, painting a tartan bear and a bear with endearingly high-waisted pants; soft, warm hues of greens and blues and bright lights illuminate this party deep in the woods. During the meeting that follows the games, bears are recognized for demonstrating “excellence in teddy-care.” Hearing the encomiums, Ollie feels “smaller and smaller,” thinking he is just an “ordinary bear.” Ollie is in for a surprise, learning that small acts like cuddles and kind words can have big effects. VanSickle writes a kind, fuzzy story, but readers will note it’s very binary, evident in the repetition of phrases “his girl” and “her boy” when referring to the bears’ charges. Amena has light-brown skin and loosely curling dark-brown hair.
Sincerely celebrates kindness and comfort. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 21, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7352-6392-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 22, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2019
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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