"Picky eaters will enjoy the subtle humor of this topsy-turvy tale." According to "School Library Journal"
I wonder, do the author and illustrator of "Picky eaters will enjoy the subtle humor of this topsy-turvy tale." According to "School Library Journal"
I wonder, do the author and illustrator of this kids' book really think their jokey cleverness is going to solve this problem in the least?
Here's a sample, whether you consider this book to contain wisdom or hilarious cleverness or (imo) nothing of significant value to parents or children. Except for maybe a bitter little laugh.
CANDY.
That's what you have to eat for dinner every night when you're a pea. Candy. Candy. Candy.
RATING THIS BOOK
My policy is to rate books on Goodreads in terms of what the likely readership would say, and clearly that's FIVE STARS.
Personally I would recommend entirely different books instead of this one: Parenting books where authors offer sound approaches to help families avoid this particular problem. Such approaches and books do exist....more
Uh-oh. Things have begun going wrong around the castle. It seems as though everyone blames the Little Princess.
What kind of things? For example:
A STICUh-oh. Things have begun going wrong around the castle. It seems as though everyone blames the Little Princess.
What kind of things? For example:
A STICK HORSE, OWNED BY "THE GENERAL"
"Look at my horse," said the General. "Did you stick a bell on his ear?"
"I didn't do it!" said the Little Princess.
GOODREADERS, YOU'LL FIND A FABULOUS SURPRISE ENDING, TOO
I am such a FIVE STAR fan of picture books by Tony Ross. Especially his use of color. He's like an abstract expressionist of the picture book genre, only a happy-funny abstract expressionist.
No, especially I like Tony Ross's plots.
No, mostly it's his dialog.
Who am I kidding? It's Tony's pacing.
Hey, what can I tell you, Goodreaders? I am seriously IN LIKE with picture book creator Tony Ross's inimitable creations....more
Perhaps, like the Little Princess, you have wondered if it might be an advantage if you could have two birthdays each year. Especially because her motPerhaps, like the Little Princess, you have wondered if it might be an advantage if you could have two birthdays each year. Especially because her mother, the Queen always has two birthdays.
The Queen explains to the girl that queens always have two birthdays. "There's one for me to share with you, and one to share with all the people."
The plot cascades from there, with more and more "annual birthdays" being given to the demanding little Princess.
Unfortunately, the more birthdays she has, the less special they are.
RATING THIS BOOK
It's a FIVE STAR wonder.
I find Tony Ross's story -- and Tony's illustrations, as well -- to be gently hilarious. For example, here's the Little Princess complaining to her maid:
"Oh NO!" groaned the Little Princess. "Not again! Why can't I play like I used to? Why can't I get dirty?"
"Because today is your BIRTHDAY," said the Maid. "Put on this nice clean crown."...more
It's hard being a toddler. Whether you're a human child or a toddler who has been thinly disguised as an animal.
In this story, is it possible that theIt's hard being a toddler. Whether you're a human child or a toddler who has been thinly disguised as an animal.
In this story, is it possible that the family is moving to a different house? Bandit is a cat, around toddler age, and he has no concept about what's going on. So many boxes! Like, what are they for.
Then there's the other kind of going on. What is missing? What in Bandit's world is missing, with no explanation?
* His toy basket * His beloved toy/lovey Fuzzy Mouse * Bandit's blanket (has a nice ring to that) * And also his bed, litter box, food bowl, and tuna.
It's so easy for a toddler's wonderment at life to turn into terror. Michelle, Bandit's owner, sure isn't a great communicator. But I find the story to be effective and moving nonetheless.
Whether the toddler and new baby in a story are human, or else they're presented as thinly disguised animals, it's pretty hard to turn this timeworn tWhether the toddler and new baby in a story are human, or else they're presented as thinly disguised animals, it's pretty hard to turn this timeworn theme of sibling conflidt into something new and moving. But I think this author succeeds.
Bandit, the older cat, doesn't take a liking to Mitzi, that new kitten. She has the nerve to mess with Bandit's cherished possessions.
Fuzzy Mouse, Bandit's "pet" should not be touched by the new kitten in the house. But Mitzi doesn't show the respect that Bandit demands. (And maybe needs.)
The raw feelings of both characters are conveyed effectively. Yet there's an underlying tone that "Everything is going to work out . . . eventually. I'd call this story spunky but sweet.
FIVE STARS for a moving story, delivered with a light touch sometimes, and with intensity at other times. Always lively!...more
I give Darcey Bell FIVE STARS for effort -- more on that to come. She packed this novel, stuffed it, with what her intended audience was supposed to lI give Darcey Bell FIVE STARS for effort -- more on that to come. She packed this novel, stuffed it, with what her intended audience was supposed to love best. At least that's how it seems to me.
From the back cover of this audiobook, I learn that the author is a preschool teacher in Chicago. I could have sworn she earned an MFA. Maybe self-taught, at that self-conscious, very professional-sounding, school of writing? Darcey certainly appears to be a very clever, hardworking writer who is ringing all the trendy bells.
Personally, I disliked this book intensely right from the beginning, a pretty rare reaction for me. But right from the start, this author planted ideas to blossom later into doubt and mistrust. Sounding the main character's belief -- certainly not mine --about how all of us have awful secrets. Even awful secrets that we may keep from ourselves?????
Surely Darcey Bell doesn't believe this. Yet she has artfully constructed her novel to herd readers into going to a morally and emotionally ugly place. What's the purpose of this? To make her novel "important"?
Because I listened to an audiobook edition, I cannot easily quote any excerpts. But look for yourself, if you have a paperback edition. Just about every paragraph I encountered in 1 1/2 of the CDs . . . has been over-written. To an extent that is almost as if the author was attempting to write her own parody.
PLENTY OF FOREST VIEWS. NOT SO MANY TREES
The narrator of this novel is, supposedly writing a blog. She alternates between quoting this "blog" and writing to her mother.
I happen to know something about writing a blog -- such as the weekly postings of mine that appear here on Goodreads, drawn from the personal version of my blog where we now have upwards of 145,000 comments.
Regarding the excerpts of Darcey's character's alleged blog, they sure don't read like any blog I have seen yet. They read like a talky novel, with huge sections squooshed into fake-blog format.
YOU GET THE IDEA, GOODREADERS
This novel was not for me. However, my policy is to rate books based on the likely reactions of intended readers. These folks might be lovers of "Gone Girl" and other highly constructed stories, with MFA-like crowding of details and strong purposefulness, illuminating new wrinkles of human ugliness and suspicion. Ick!
I mean, FIVE STARS, sure. Just don't ask me to read any more of this. To paraphrase the author's blithesome recount of a lie that she told her best friend, did she finish a certain book? No, it wasn't for her.
However, for this novel's main character, somehow she still needed to lie to her best friend, claiming to have read that book in its entirety.
Why? Why? Why?
Does Darcey have any understanding that a best friend could be more, inwardly, than somebody with an elegant diamond-and-sapphire ring. A character who always wears a distinctive, rare, imported perfume from Italy. While the main character tells us, she has "never" worn perfume.
Not even once? Why? Why? Why?
So many details. So little reason for all those details....more
What a brilliant premise! Many early readers have main characters who are animals, supposedly, but those characters are really thinly disguised humansWhat a brilliant premise! Many early readers have main characters who are animals, supposedly, but those characters are really thinly disguised humans. This book takes a different twist on kid reality.
This isn't just a story about some random little toddler whose family has moved to a new house. No no, this is the tale of a princess who's a toddler, and her family has moved to a new castle. Magnificent!
Yes, our little princess is allowed to go back to the old castle, accompanied by her mother, the Queen. Only what they discover is shocking, shocking! (And funny, funny!)
FIVE STARS for this fabulous creation by Tony Ross....more
Oliver is a curious young explorer. Full of questions, brimming with courage.
* How do planes fly? * How does our fridge work? * Can I breathe underwateOliver is a curious young explorer. Full of questions, brimming with courage.
* How do planes fly? * How does our fridge work? * Can I breathe underwater like a fish?
The big adventure in this book begins when Oliver's in the bathtub. After he hears a strange gurgle, he follows that up with a question.
* What lives down the drain?
Soon Oliver zooms down the drain in his homemade submarine. He's on a historic mission.
FIVE STARS to Judith Rossell, both author and illustrator.
Such an inspired three-way! Take the game of hide-and-seek, add three animals, don't include too many words (since this is a book for new readers). StSuch an inspired three-way! Take the game of hide-and-seek, add three animals, don't include too many words (since this is a book for new readers). Stir a little. Laugh a lot. Big fun!
The deal is:
Playing this game, Cat is it.
Dog is able to hide.
Frog is also able to hide.
But how about Cat. Will can manage to find the other two players?
Furthermore, will there be enough rhymes to satisfy these early readers?
The answer is YES. I'd call this a FIVE STAR read.
Text by Laura Gehl make all the difference. Plus, zany-enough illustrations by Fred Blunt also make a positive difference. ...more
All too often, animals in children's fiction are nothing more than thinly disguised humans. The plot of this book couldn't possibly have been about thAll too often, animals in children's fiction are nothing more than thinly disguised humans. The plot of this book couldn't possibly have been about thinly disguised humans. It's clever, internally consistent, and sooooooo funny.
Each of the two main characters has only one desire in life. As you can tell, right from the title, Goat wants to eat.
The other character, Cat, wants to nap.
What, each to his own, you say? Oh, there's a problem. Since every time that Cat finds a cozy bed for taking a nap, Goat eats it.
Eventually, Goat feels sick from overeating. Finally he needs to take a nap. How can Cat find her way to a happy ending? (She does, oh she does.)
FIVE STARS for an utterly delightful book. You might never guess it is a Ready-to-Read book, the kind of literary product produced especially for those who can't yet quite read....more
There's nothing subtle about this story. But, hey, if you're a very early reader, who needs subtle?
So meet two "characters" who are simplified stereotThere's nothing subtle about this story. But, hey, if you're a very early reader, who needs subtle?
So meet two "characters" who are simplified stereotypes:
* Blink is silly. * Block is logical.
Just the level of sophistication you'd expect of two cartoon characters -- developed for kids who are barely able to read.
FASCINATING CHARACTERS? HARDLY
Of course, in the world of first grade fiction, it's not hard to tell which character is which.
* Block is a big purple cube. * While Blink is a blue circle, and Blink also has huge eyes.
But then the power of imagination, wishing, and magical thinking help to make this book really, really thrilling. At least if you are five years old.
RATING THIS BOOK
Since I rate books in terms of the likely reactions of intended readers, the answer is as obvious as the "great relationship" of the two starring characters: FIVE STARS.
I sure wish this story weren't a glorified comic. Even so, it is well done....more
An entertaining premise gives rise to an uncommonly entertaining math reader.
* Centipede has one hundred feet.
* One hundred feet means one hundred shAn entertaining premise gives rise to an uncommonly entertaining math reader.
* Centipede has one hundred feet.
* One hundred feet means one hundred shoes. How in the world does Centipede choose shoes?
Kids of an age to read a Preschool reader may not question how plausible it would be that a Centipede would have to choose shoes. Nor are they likely to wonder:
* How much will all these shoes cost? * And what kind a shoestore caters to centipedes?
How fortunate, because Charles Ghigna, the author, goes wild. And so does illustrator Bob Staake. Rhymes are included, adding to the fun. This math reader is absolutely FIVE STAR worthy....more
Corduroy's birthday surprise for Lisa did not turn out to be what he planned.
How hard could it be, making her a birthday cake?
The well-meaning bear fiCorduroy's birthday surprise for Lisa did not turn out to be what he planned.
How hard could it be, making her a birthday cake?
The well-meaning bear finds out, he definitely finds out. My favorite part of the story is what I'll quote from Page 22:
Soon he forgot about the cake and the mess. He even forgot he felt terrible until . . .
SO HUMAN
This messy predicament of Corduroy's isn't only about toddler life. Nor just a depiction of the daily travails of a Progressing Reader. Don Freeman brilliantly described a vignette that symbolizes the human condition for us all.