A Little Less of a Hot Mess

Starred review from June 14, 2021
In this endearing picture book, Little Loon desires nothing more than to emulate Papa’s long and strong calls—a tremolo, wail, hoot, and yodel—whereas Little Loon only makes peeps and squeaks. Employing the refrain “Papa’s call was long./ His call was strong./ It echoed on the water,” Pearson presents a number of situations in which Papa’s calls serve to protect Mama and Little Loon. Lyrical prose follows Little Loon’s growth: “Until one day, as the sun tipped over the trees, Little Loon danced upon the water, flapped his wings, and rose through the crisp air.” Onomatopoeia is conveyed in engaging typography, while Shklovsky contributes sweetly expressive, intricate watercolor and pencil illustrations in a soft palette, employing captivating angles and dynamic spreads to hold readers’ attention. This illuminating tale simultaneously serves as a primer on the loon and a satisfying, well-paced chronicle of progress. Back matter includes more information about loons. Ages 5–7.

August 1, 2021
Little Loon aspires to have a voice like his papa's, long, strong, and echoing on the water. Readers unfortunate enough to be unfamiliar with the call of a loon may miss something in this telling, as the haunting and ethereal beauty of a loon's vocalizations doesn't quite come through here. What do come across, however, are the chick's persistence and fierce desire as well as the growth cycle of a loon chick. When the tale begins, Little Loon is seen in a nest, a broken egg nearby. Later he rides on Mama's back, sliding off when she dives to catch him small fish. As the pages turn and Little Loon hears his father's various calls--Danger! Where are you? Back off!--he practices his own vocalizations, but his "eep"s and "peep"s and "squeak"s aren't like Papa's. Observant readers will notice, though, that Little Loon's feathers are changing: He's growing up. And as the leaves change color and he takes off into the sky for the ocean, he finally is able to make an echoing call. Judging from previous scenes, however, it's a yodel that's written, but backmatter states that a tremolo call is the only one made while flying and that chicks can't yodel until they are 2 years old. Shklovsky's illustrations seem to use graphite and watercolor to create the loons and their habitat, respectively; some scenes are jarringly blurry. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Share this with readers who have heard loons' calls in the wild. (Informational picture book. 3-7)

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