Law’s title becomes a soothing refrain that softens nighttime fears and encourages welcome rest.
Newbery Honoree Law’s inviting picture-book debut highlights reassuring rituals for bedtime.
“Sometimes / bedtime / might feel / like the dark cave / in the gloomy woods / from your favorite storybook,” Law acknowledges. “Close the book, child,” she urges, “and remember: / you are not alone.” The night light glows, parents offer comfort, left-open doors brighten, kisses linger. Even after good nights, best-loved stuffies remain close. Meanwhile, the household offers plenty of signs of activity: Grandma’s got three more bathroom visits to go; the fridge hums along; the kitty purrs. Outside, a cricket chirps, an owl hoots, and porch lights illuminate the “homes of friends, neighbors, / of people you don’t yet know / but might… / one day.” At all hours, cars, trucks, and trains are in constant motion, leaving behind echoes. “You are never alone, / say the pages / of this book,” in soft rhythmic repetition throughout, lulling audiences gently to slumberland. Li’s lucid palette smooths the child’s worries, easing concerns with vibrant lightness—and a never-far security quilt of primary colors. Beyond Law’s verses, Li’s detailed illustrations add additional comforts: The stuffed animals are larger-than-life protectors, walls are warmed by family photographs, and grandmother and grandchild sport matching bunny slippers. A parent’s final check on the sleeping child provides that definitive assurance of safety. Characters are light-skinned.
Law’s title becomes a soothing refrain that softens nighttime fears and encourages welcome rest. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2025
ISBN: 9780593697955
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Rocky Pond Books/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2025
Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story.
A home-renovation project is interrupted by a family of wrens, allowing a young girl an up-close glimpse of nature.
Renata and her father enjoy working on upgrading their bathroom, installing a clawfoot bathtub, and cutting a space for a new window. One warm night, after Papi leaves the window space open, two wrens begin making a nest in the bathroom. Rather than seeing it as an unfortunate delay of their project, Renata and Papi decide to let the avian carpenters continue their work. Renata witnesses the birth of four chicks as their rosy eggs split open “like coats that are suddenly too small.” Renata finds at a crucial moment that she can help the chicks learn to fly, even with the bittersweet knowledge that it will only hasten their exits from her life. Rosen uses lively language and well-chosen details to move the story of the baby birds forward. The text suggests the strong bond built by this Afro-Latinx father and daughter with their ongoing project without needing to point it out explicitly, a light touch in a picture book full of delicate, well-drawn moments and precise wording. Garoche’s drawings are impressively detailed, from the nest’s many small bits to the developing first feathers on the chicks and the wall smudges and exposed wiring of the renovation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)
Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: March 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-12320-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021
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
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
