An entertaining ruckus, still in need of a tweak or two to reach its full, parental-insanity–inducing apotheosis.
The audio balance may not be quite right, but this brief and busy e-version of a nearly wordless German tree-book brings the noise.
Berated by, maybe, an older sister for heedlessly dropping a banana peel on the sidewalk, young Hubert gleefully envisions an escalating cascade of mishaps that begins with one passerby slipping. It ends—just nine screens later—in a broad cartoon streetscape jammed with crashed vehicles, escaped pigs and zoo animals, innocent bystanders splattered with food and all manner of slapstick byplay. There is no animation, but successive manually advanced scenes fade in or out cinematically and can be spread for scrolling close-up views of the action. Each scene features several touch-activated oinks, beeps, squeals and electronic sounds that are hard to hear over the overloud, percussive musical track. This is turned off in the final scene, where the sounds continue running once tapped so that viewers can create a mighty satisfying cacophony of their own.
An entertaining ruckus, still in need of a tweak or two to reach its full, parental-insanity–inducing apotheosis. (iPad storybook app. 4-6)Pub Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: zuuka! GmbH
Review Posted Online: July 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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