Mermaid mavens will take to this pair like fish to water.
A friend’s hand comes in handy.
Brown-skinned Harmony, who has long raven tresses, and tan-skinned Echo, who has a chin-length, straw-colored bob, are mermaid BFFs with lots in common: They collect sea glass and love fairy tales and daydreaming. But there are also differences between the two: Nothing fazes cool, collected Harmony, while Echo is a major worrywart. With an upcoming ballet performance looming, Echo frets about forgetting her routine. Despite Harmony’s calm assurance that all will be well because they’ve practiced repeatedly, Echo is still anxious. Harmony advises her pal to squeeze her hand if she gets scared; Echo begs for one last practice. All goes…swimmingly. During the show, Echo squeezes Harmony’s hand, Harmony reciprocates, and, as she predicted, the performance goes off splendidly. The audience claps and claps, the friends enjoy ice cream afterward, and they agree that hand-holding is “for whenever we need to.” This thin but sweet story reinforces the idea that true friends are always there to lend a helping hand. The brightly colored illustrations, rendered in watercolor ink and Photoshop, depict winsome, wide-eyed Harmony and Echo with tails of different hues: Harmony’s is yellow, while Echo’s is pink. Their lush, bubbly, watery environment, filled with assorted sea life, is inviting. Background mermaid characters are diverse in skin tone. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Mermaid mavens will take to this pair like fish to water. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-984830-42-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House Studio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind.
The cool beans again step up to do a timorous fellow legume a fava…this time at the pool.
Will a rash decision to tackle the multistory super-slide lead to another embarrassing watery fail for our shy protagonist? Nope, for up the stairs right behind comes a trio of cool beans, each a different type and color, all clad in nothing but dark shades. They make an offer: “It’s not as scary if you go with friends!” As the knobby nerd explains once the thrilling ride down is done, “They all realized that I just needed some encouragement and support.” Just to make sure that both cool and uncool readers get the message, the narrator lets us know that “there are plenty of kind folks who have my back. They’re always there when I need them.” The beany bonhomie doesn’t end at the bottom of the slide, with all gliding down to the shallow end of the pool (“3 INCHES. NO DIVING”) for a splashy finale. This latest early reader starring characters from John and Oswald’s immensely popular Food Group series will be a hit with fans. Fun accessories, such as a bean who rocks pink cat-eye frames, add some pizzazz to the chromatically and somatotypically varied cast.
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind. (Easy reader. 5-7)Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9780063329560
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
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
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