Dojo Daycare

August 1, 2014
Ninja training begins early, but before any power moves are taught, young ones must first learn to control their emotions-practical advice for any 3-year-old. The morning starts swiftly, as families drop down from nothing but thin air-an appropriate entrance for ninjas. The children bow, and all seems well, until "KABOOM! KAPOW!" Little feet and fists kick up clouds of dust as the ninjas push and pull and fight over toys. Master claps his hands and yells, "QUIET!" He pleads, "It is time for you to all reflect / On honor, kindness, and respect." (Delightfully, Master sounds an awful lot like Miss Clavell.) Order is restored...until the lunch gong is rung. "KABOOM! KAPOW!" Udon goes flying. Chaos ensues yet again at storytime. The weary Master slumps in defeat. But he may have imparted more wisdom than he thought, as suddenly, one little ninja steps up to stop the riot. Tougas' black-clad tots are alert and ready to pounce-and when they do, it's a flurry of action. The rhyming text does well to keep up. Added details of one poor, masked teddy bear's increasingly mangled state and a particularly gassy ninja are fun to spot. Day care is full of covert purposes, ninja or not; this rollicking read-aloud will fit right in. (Picture book. 3-6)

COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 1-When busy ninja moms and dads drop off their little ninjas at the Dojo Daycare, it isn't long before-"KABOOM! KAPOW!"-a full-blown ninja riot breaks out over toys and again at lunch. Each time, the Master calls out, "Quiet! It's time for you to all reflect/On honor, kindness, and respect." Unfortunately, the admonition doesn't stick until a storytime debacle leaves the Master practically in tears. Then, despite his previous riotous behavior, one little ninja takes control of the situation using the Master's own words to inspire his companions. "Every ninja understands, /And fists turn into helping hands/As little ninjas work as one, /Undoing all that they have done." Then the remorseful little ninjas go home and head to bed and dream of ninja moves they'll make tomorrow. Tougas's energetic rhyming text is matched by his action-packed illustrations. There is much to see in each spread, but ample white space assures that viewers won't be overwhelmed. His ninjas are dressed all in black with only their hands, feet, and eyes showing, yet they still manage to be expressive. Nice touches of humor include a well-used teddy bear and a family's pets dressed in ninja attire. A fun addition.-Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.