  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 04/15/2016 “Being extremely cute doesn’t mean you can’t get EXTREMELY MAD!” Karen and her extremely cute animal friends are building sand castles in the park when a trio of bullies, bearing “snowboards, pogo sticks, and a bad attitude,” knock them down once, twice, three times. Is it too much to handle? Not for these excessively adorable critters. “Move your butts! We have a job to do,” says Karen. With bulldozer, crane, and heavy-lift helicopter, they build a superstructure of I beams into “the grandest sand castle plus amusement park anyone had ever seen,” and thanks to a no-bullies policy, the bad-attitude oafs aren’t allowed. Fortunately, Karen understands that bullying is a behavior, not an identity, and she lets the bigger critters in once they appear appropriately contrite. Bright pastel hues and smooth, broad shapes give the digital art a springtime feel, and you can almost hear the big-eyed, candy-colored toylike characters chirp and cheer as they work and play together. The combination of cute animals and construction equipment will delight a wide range of readers. - Copyright 2016 Booklist. School Library Journal - 06/01/2016 PreS-Gr 1—Bullies are no match for the crafty creativity of extremely cute animals. Faced with repeated destruction of their playground sand castles, Karen and company stand up to mean Skyler and his friends with their "snowboards, pogo sticks, and a bad attitude!" The sweet critters prevail, bringing in a bulldozer, a heavy-lift helicopter, and just a few steel beams. Amazingly in a single day, the "grandest sand castle plus amusement park" arises on the spot for all who love to ride and race, with roller coasters, water slides, Ferris wheels, bumper cars and boats, carousels, bungee jumping, and a climbing wall. The newly contrite former bullies are eventually welcomed into the updated play area, perfect for those who love to stomp and smash. Pages of brightly painted images on pastel backgrounds emphasize free-form cartoon animals in their idyllic neighborhood. VERDICT A recommended storytime purchase for all libraries, this child's playground fantasy features a message of inclusiveness and empowerment, showing that even extremely cute creatures can stand up for themselves.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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