Kite Day: A Bear and Mole Story (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: Kite Day: A Bear and Mole Story Jeannette Hulick Hillenbrand, Will . Kite Day: A Bear and Mole Story; written and illus. by Will Hillenbrand. Holiday House, 2012. 30p. ISBN 978-0-8234-1603-5 $16.95 R 3-5 yrs. A windy blue sky and the smell of the air convince Bear that it's "Kite Day," and he and his friend Mole work together to construct a lovely yellow one which soars "up. Up. Up" until a storm hits and snaps the kite's string. The two friends rush to extricate their storm-battered creation from a tree but change their minds when they see where it has landed: right above a nest of baby birds, who are now sheltered by its cover. With lively, short sentences, ear-pleasing word choices, repetition of particular words and phrases ("Splat. Splat Splat. Rain pelted the broken kite"), and a simple but dramatic situation, this is a perfect fit for an attention-challenged preschool audience; the bold colors and simple but striking compositions of the mixed-media illustrations also make this a splendid selection for group viewing. Tiny, pale gray Mole with his rosy cheeks and toes is a fine illustrative foil to the exuberant big, brown Bear, and the two friends, while visually quite different, are united by their shared task and by their colorful overalls. Bring this out on a breezy day to inspire a session of kite-making or wind exploration, or share it as part of a kite-themed storytime. [End Page 459] Copyright © 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois