After reading about this cool monster, kids will know just what needs to be done about him—be his friend.
A monster goes monster hunting.
Merv, a big blue creature with horns, sits by a stream eating trees. (It’s just what he does.) He overhears the nearby villagers’ complaints that something needs to be done about that monster and, blissfully unaware that he is the beast in question, sets off to find help. A trio of purple-skinned witches tell him they can turn the monster into a frog (“it’s just what we do”). A troll offers to eat the monster (“it’s just what I do”), and several unicorns propose decorating the monster (“it’s just what we do”), but none of their suggestions feel right. So Merv returns home. The dam’s leaking; the village is almost completely flooded. Without thinking, Merv sits in his usual spot and plugs up the dam. Days later, the water has receded, and the wet witches, troll, and unicorns show up seeking refuge. Merv, who just wants to help friends—because that’s what he does—convinces the villagers that monsters do make good neighbors. This sweet story offers sound messages about friendship, community, and appreciating what we have. Merv is kind and endearing, the supernatural figures richly comical. The digital illustrations are appealing, though readers may not pick up on the fact that Merv’s been responsible all along for preventing the stream from flooding. The villagers are racially diverse.
After reading about this cool monster, kids will know just what needs to be done about him—be his friend. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Feb. 20, 2024
ISBN: 9781682636107
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023
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
Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children.
Interior decorator and TV personality Gaines invites readers to open their eyes and exercise their imaginations.
There’s a world to be explored out there—and only children can really take part. What does “looking for wonder” entail? Slowing down and looking up, around, and everywhere. At the outset, a group of eager, racially diverse young friends—including one who uses a wheelchair—are fully prepared for a grand adventure. They offer tips about how and where to look: Why, there’s a “grand parade” of marching ants! And, these kids add, perspective is key. A rainy day might signal gloom to some, but to those filled with wonder, showers bring “magic puddles for play”; a forest is “an enchanted world,” the ocean conceals “a spectacular city,” and the night sky boasts “extraordinary sights.” The takeaway: “Wonder is never in short supply.” It’s a robust, empowering message, as is the exhortation to “keep your mind open, and let curiosity guide the way.” Youngsters are also advised to share their discoveries. The upbeat narrative is delivered in clunky verse, but the colorful cartoonish illustrations brimming with activity and good cheer (including some adorable anthropomorphized animals in the backgrounds) make up for the textual lapses and should motivate readers to embark on their own “wonder explorations.”
Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2025
ISBN: 9781400247417
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tommy Nelson
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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