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PRINCE AND PIRATE

A watery odd couple perfect for potential royals and scurvy curs alike.

Two pet fish duke it out, scale to scale.

Prince, an entitled goldfish, and Pirate, a fish of a decidedly naughty nature, are content as can be within their own little bowls. Then along comes the terrible day when they find themselves sharing a single tank. Prince considers Pirate to be a downright “cheeky cod,” while Pirate can’t stand sharing space with this “worm-eaten peg leg.” Taking a cue from classic movies and sitcoms of yore, they make a line down the tank’s center constructed from white pebbles. But when a cute little dogfish enters their domain (complete with doghouse), they both realize the only way to win its trust is to come to terms with each other. While both the impetus for bringing these two mortal enemies together and the final denouement fail to ring completely true, there’s no denying that the book is a godsend to pirate-themed storytimes nationwide. Gunnufson delights in language, both Prince’s high-falutin’ royal speak and Pirate’s down-and-dirty buccaneer-inflected growl. Lowery, meanwhile, endows his flippered foes with enough humor and heart to sink an ocean liner. Such jokes as Pirate’s surreptitious lift of his eye patch to better view Prince will not go unnoticed.

A watery odd couple perfect for potential royals and scurvy curs alike. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: May 9, 2017

ISBN: 978-0-399-17604-3

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: Feb. 19, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2017

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK AND RACER RED

From the Little Blue Truck series

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

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THERE'S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.

Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.

Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: March 29, 2022

ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin

Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022

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