What first seems to be a narrow lesson becomes cheerful inspiration, even for readers who don’t share this specific quandary. “[W]hen Willow spoke, her words slipped out as soft and shy as a secret,” causing lonely frustration at school. Nobody hears Willow’s acceptance of a group invitation to eat lunch, so she eats alone; the teacher mishears Willow’s juice preference and pours orange, which makes Willow’s lip crinkle; a bully grabs Willow’s toy because whispers can’t stop a bully. At home, mellow dad has faith—“one day your voice will wiggle its way out”—but Willow’s own steam produces the solution: a glitter-covered cardboard tube. This “magic microphone” amplifies her voice, solving everything, until a drop to the floor makes it (implausibly) “crumpled”; but by then, her loudness has had enough experience to emerge talisman-free. Font sizes change to convey volume. Smiley Photoshop kids with black-dot eyes, though stiff-armed and visually unsophisticated, have enough facial energy to carry the plot’s emotions. A victory for any reader who struggles to be heard, even metaphorically. (Picture book. 3-5)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-55453-280-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2010
Categories: CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES
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Summertime with all its pleasures is coming to an end, and school will soon begin again. What challenges will the new school year bring for Llama?
Told in a by-now-trademark rhyming verse style and accompanied by adorable, cheerful oil paint, colored pencil, and oil pastel illustrations, this story finds Llama taking pleasure in all the fun that summer brings—and hoping it will never be over. “Fishing, hiking, slip and slide. / Backyard camping, picnic time.” But as sure as one season follows another, fall is on its way and school will be starting again. Mamma Llama takes Llama shopping for new school supplies, but the expression on little Llama’s face makes it clear that preparing to return to school is anything but fun. Soon, the first day of school comes, and Llama is ready. There are so many rules: “Be on time. / Don’t push or shove. Stand in line. / Do not shout. Raise your hand.” “Lunch in cubbies. Coats on hooks.” But these are seasoned students, and they take it in stride. All except for one: A young rhino is new and feeling scared. Llama knows just what to do, sharing crayons and showing the newcomer how to glue. Soon the rhino is part of the gang. As is characteristic of the series, this is one more situation familiar to many a young child solved in sweet Llama style. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Another solid addition to the beloved series. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 31, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35244-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022
Categories: CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Oliver, of first-day-of-school alligator fame, is back, imagining adventures and still struggling to find balance between introversion and extroversion.
“When Oliver found his egg…” on the playground, mint-green backgrounds signifying Oliver’s flight into fancy slowly grow larger until they take up entire spreads; Oliver’s creature, white and dinosaurlike with orange polka dots, grows larger with them. Their adventures include sharing treats, sailing the seas and going into outer space. A classmate’s yell brings him back to reality, where readers see him sitting on top of a rock. Even considering Schmid’s scribbly style, readers can almost see the wheels turning in his head as he ponders the girl and whether or not to give up his solitary play. “But when Oliver found his rock… // Oliver imagined many adventures // with all his friends!” This last is on a double gatefold that opens to show the children enjoying the creature’s slippery curves. A final wordless spread depicts all the children sitting on rocks, expressions gleeful, wondering, waiting, hopeful. The illustrations, done in pastel pencil and digital color, again make masterful use of white space and page turns, although this tale is not nearly as funny or tongue-in-cheek as Oliver and His Alligator (2013), nor is its message as clear and immediately accessible to children.
Still, this young boy’s imagination is a powerful force for helping him deal with life, something that should be true for all children but sadly isn’t. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: July 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4231-7573-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2014
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