A warm, inclusive take on friendship and conflict resolution.
A child feels left out when her BFF meets someone new.
Sally and Sonia have been friends since they were “smaller than small,” sharing laughter, tears, and, after Sonia’s deafness is discovered, sign language. One day, Sally shares an idea that’s “greater than great”: planting a flower and vegetable garden. Sally and Sonia happily spend sunny days in their garden and rainy days in their clubhouse—until a young boy named Dev and his puppy, Pops, move in next door. Sally likes Dev but finds Pops too exuberant for her liking. So while Sonia spends her time with Dev and Pops, Sally sadly tends the garden and visits the clubhouse alone. One afternoon, Dev accidentally lets go of Pops’ leash, and the dog tramples the garden. Initially, Sally is “madder than mad,” but when she opens up about her loneliness, Sonia explains that Sally is still her best friend, and Dev is lonely after moving away from his own best friend. Dev, who’s learned some signs, apologizes, and Sally and Sonia welcome him and Pops to their clubhouse. The alliterative, rhythmic text makes for an ideal read-aloud, and the gentle resolution encourages communication and empathy. Characters’ matter-of-fact attitude toward Sonia’s deafness is refreshing, and Chen, herself deaf, clearly depicts their American Sign Language signs in sunny, expressive cartoon illustrations. Sonia has light skin; Sally and Dev have brown skin and curly hair.
A warm, inclusive take on friendship and conflict resolution. (glossary of signs, author’s and illustrator’s notes, resources) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9781665941693
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Nov. 23, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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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