A wonderful tale certain to inspire youngsters to find creative outlets for their curiosity.
A story of hope for incessant talkers.
Ruby René, a dark-skinned Black girl with big curly hair, loves to talk. She listens to informative podcasts, adores science, and collects interesting facts that she’s eager to share—often. In class, Mrs. Hansen gets exasperated with Ruby’s talking and calls her parents. Knowing she’s in trouble, Ruby frets and decides to learn Morse code to communicate. Ruby’s concerned and empathetic dad gives her a purple journal so she can write her thoughts down in class instead of speaking them aloud. This quiets Ruby, but she gets so wrapped up with writing in the book that she hears little of Mrs. Hansen’s lessons. In gym class, Ruby can’t contain herself and shares a dodgeball fact with a classmate, and a ball clocks her on the head. While in the office nursing her noggin, Ruby encounters Principal Gale, who suggests something that changes everything. This story emphasizes creative solutions to loquaciousness that don’t squelch a child’s spirit. Ruby is surrounded by caring Black adults (including Mrs. Hansen and Ms. Gale) who encourage her inquisitiveness but help her channel it into positive avenues. Speech and thought bubbles give readers a view into Ruby’s perspective, and Jose’s whimsical, colorful digital illustrations depict a diverse classroom.
A wonderful tale certain to inspire youngsters to find creative outlets for their curiosity. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 14, 2024
ISBN: 9780593618899
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Kokila
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
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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