A helpful reminder that honesty truly is the best policy.
A lie threatens to overwhelm young Finn.
Finn and his sister, Simone, are excited to spend several days at Grandma’s house, which is full of “wonderful, beautiful but VERY fragile things.” While bouncing his ball in the house, Finn accidentally breaks Grandma’s clock. Rather than telling the truth, he tells her that Simone broke it. All weekend long, the lies pile up until finally he comes clean. Percival cleverly illustrates the weight of Finn’s fibs. After he tells his first one, a little blob appears, visible only to him. With each new lie, another blob appears. The blobs make it hard for Finn to snuggle up on the sofa with Grandma and Simone or for him to enjoy his picnic lunch. Once Finn tells the whole truth, however, the blobs pop and disappear, relieving him of their heavy presence. This is an incredibly effective metaphor to help young children understand how lying feels and how it can weigh us down. Percival makes lovely use of color, the vibrant blobs contrasting against the more muted backgrounds. Grandma is a reassuring, affirming presence; little ones will come away aware of the importance of telling the truth. Finn and Simone present Black, while their grandmother presents white. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A helpful reminder that honesty truly is the best policy. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2023
ISBN: 9781547612932
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2023
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series.
Another creature is on the loose.
The long-running series continues its successful formula with this Hallmark card of a book, which features bright illustrations and catchy rhymes. This time, the mythical creature the racially diverse children set out to catch is an absent mom who does it all (lists of descriptors include the words banker, caregiver, nurse, doctor, driver, chef, housekeeper, teacher, entertainer, playmate, laundry service, problem solver, handywoman, cleaner, and alarm clock) but doesn’t seem to have a job outside the home and is inexplicably a dinosaur. As the children prepare gifts and a meal for her, the text becomes an ode to the skills the Mamasaurus possesses (“Day or night she’s always there. / She meets every wish and need”) and values she instills (“Sometimes life can mean hard work,” “kindness matters,” and “what counts is doing your best”). This well-intentioned selection veers into cliche generously sprinkled with saccharine but manages to redeem itself with its appreciation for mothers and all that they may do. Endpapers include a “to” and “from” page framed in a heart, as well as a page where young gift givers or recipients can draw a picture of their Mamasaurus.
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781728274300
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
A disappointing follow-up.
Inventor Izzy Gizmo is back in this sequel to her eponymous debut (2017).
While busily inventing one day, Izzy receives an invitation from the Genius Guild to their annual convention. Though Izzy’s “inventions…don’t always work,” Grandpa (apparently her sole caregiver) encourages her to go. The next day they undertake a long journey “over fields, hills, and waves” and “mile after mile” to isolated Technoff Isle. There, Izzy finds she must compete against four other kids to create the most impressive machine. The colorful, detail-rich illustrations chronicle how poor Izzy is thwarted at every turn by Abi von Lavish, a Veruca Salt–esque character who takes all the supplies for herself. But when Abi abandons her project, Izzy salvages the pieces and decides to take Grandpa’s advice to create a machine that “can really be put to good use.” A frustrated Izzy’s impatience with a friend almost foils her chance at the prize, but all’s well that ends well. There’s much to like: Brown-skinned inventor girl Izzy is an appealing character, it’s great to see a nurturing brown-skinned male caregiver, the idea of an “Invention Convention” is fun, and a sustainable-energy invention is laudable. However, these elements don’t make up for rhymes that often feel forced and a lackluster story.
A disappointing follow-up. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68263-164-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2020
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