Gentle though unconvincing lessons on friendship and belonging.
The animals at Forever Friends Farm welcome Jasper the cat into the fold, but he has some things to learn about being a good pal.
P.J. the goose is having a party to celebrate that he read a book by himself. He invites Jasper to join in the fun, but Jasper isn’t a natural fit. He doesn’t help with party prep, gobbles up all the cookies before anyone else can have one, and then accidentally smashes the party cake. The animals aren’t deterred; they forgive Jasper and reassure him that he’s still welcome at the celebration. Their supportive attitudes are sweet, if unrealistically rosy, but they never discuss how they feel about his thoughtless actions, nor does Jasper explain why he behaved the way he did. Instead, he switches gears quite effortlessly, slicing apples for the group and joining in with some party games. Bright, cartoony illustrations feature pops of action that will appeal to kids. The book offers some nods to inclusivity (P.J. uses an inhaler, Jasper has a leg brace, and Lola the cow uses some Spanish words), all of which is laudable but feels a bit forced. The final page features the lyrics to a song called “We Are Glad You’re Here!” (sung to the tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”) with a QR code to listen in.
Gentle though unconvincing lessons on friendship and belonging. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9781223188591
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Paw Prints Publishing/Baker & Taylor
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet notion that falls flat.
A hit song reimagined as a book about parental love.
Featured in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1, Perri’s “A Thousand Years” deals with the speaker’s fear of romantic love. In picture-book form, it explores a parent’s unwavering love for a child, who grows from an infant into a toddler over the course of the narrative. The caregiver expresses awe when the youngster learns to stand and fear that the child might fall while beginning to walk. “I have spent every day waiting for you,” the parent says. “Darling, don’t be afraid.” What the child might fear isn’t clear from the joyful balloon- and rainbow-filled illustrations. The story borders on cloying, and words that might work when sung and accompanied by music don’t sound fresh on the page: “Time goes by. / You grow ever stronger as you fly.” The refrain, however, is a lovely sentiment: “I have loved you for a thousand years. / I’ll love you for a thousand more.” Perri’s legion of fans may flock to this version, illustrated by Ruiz with sparkling stars, bubbles, and big-eyed toddlers, but it doesn’t hold together as a narrative or an ode, as it’s billed, and it’s a long way from the original song. The child is tan-skinned, the parent is lighter-skinned, and other characters are diverse.
A sweet notion that falls flat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9780593622599
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
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