A cozy ode for bibliophiles everywhere.
The latest in Paul and Walker’s series sees a cuddly coterie of animals embracing the joy of reading.
How would bats read their favorite stories? Why, hanging upside down of course. And how would a kitten show some appreciation for a beloved read-aloud? By licking the pages: “yum-yummy story, purr-purr-purr-purrrrrrrrrrrrr.” In addition to showcasing adorable animals immersing themselves in literature, Paul and Walker highlight many places to read and acquire books, such as the library (staffed by a bespectacled mole) or a bookstore (with the books spread out on the branches of a tree). Beaver Kit snuggles up in a “stick-and-mud” nook, chewing a few of the pages, while several young badgers gather under a tree. The owls attend a monthly book club, and Dog holds a storytime as a passel of puppies gather around to listen. Paul’s singsongy text uses many identical rhymes (“Bunny would hug her book and hop-hop / in a book-happy dance, hip-hippity-hop”), but one stanza breaks the flow: “If animals loved books, / Fox Mama would read all Kit’s books, / but then he’d yelp, / ‘Read them again!’” Still, the tale brims with enthusiasm, and Walker’s soft, gentle colors match the roly-poly animals as they happily profess their love of reading. It all concludes with Fox Kit tucked up in bed, making this a lovely bedtime choice.
A cozy ode for bibliophiles everywhere. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2025
ISBN: 9780374391935
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together.
A clueless duckling tries to make a new friend.
He is confused by this peculiar-looking duck, who has a long tail, doesn’t waddle and likes to be alone. No matter how explicitly the creature denies he is a duck and announces that he is a cat, the duckling refuses to acknowledge the facts. When this creature expresses complete lack of interest in playing puddle stomp, the little ducking goes off and plays on his own. But the cat is not without remorse for rejecting an offered friendship. Of course it all ends happily, with the two new friends enjoying each other’s company. Bramsen employs brief sentences and the simplest of rhymes to tell this slight tale. The two heroes are meticulously drawn with endearing, expressive faces and body language, and their feathers and fur appear textured and touchable. Even the detailed tree bark and grass seem three-dimensional. There are single- and double-page spreads, panels surrounded by white space and circular and oval frames, all in a variety of eye-pleasing juxtapositions. While the initial appeal is solidly visual, young readers will get the gentle message that friendship is not something to take for granted but is to be embraced with open arms—or paws and webbed feet.
A sweet, tender and charming experience to read aloud or together. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-375-86990-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Nov. 13, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2012
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