There’s lots of fun to be had in your own backyard—and in this lively book.
It’s amazing what you’ll see when you step outside.
Whether you live in the country, the suburbs, or even the city, you’ll find plenty to explore in your backyard. There are forests to hike through (an accompanying image depicts a child gazing at backpack-wearing insects journeying through the grass) and workers making their way through busy streets (a cutaway illustration depicts an underground city populated by ants). You’ll find mountains (a child stares at a pile of dirt) and oceans, too, courtesy of a kiddie pool. Music? Just listen to the birds singing in the trees. Waterfalls? Turn on the hydrant in the summer. There are farms (community gardens), secret caves (tents made from quilts), and art galleries (sidewalk chalk drawings), too. When you think about it, almost any place can be a backyard—no matter where you live and regardless of the size of the space. As this story demonstrates, you don’t even need grass; all you really need are yards of imagination and a desire to see and do. And every backyard—no matter where—is filled with possibility. Sprightly, colorful digital illustrations and spare but stirring text brim with childlike creativity and wonder. Characters are diverse.
There’s lots of fun to be had in your own backyard—and in this lively book. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 21, 2024
ISBN: 9781665935128
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2024
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
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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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