Another lively and engaging presentation from a talented pair.
One night, a spotted skunk reveals a surprising secret ability to its new friend, a porcupine.
“Call me Polecat,” says our protagonist, who has a “DOOZY of a superpower.” Porcupine knows what it is. After all, everyone’s well aware that skunks ward off predators with their stinky spray. But this species—“smaller than our striped cousins”—can do things that other skunks can’t. Polecat’s a talented—and fast—climber; plus, its spots allow it to camouflage itself. The two animals discuss their diets (Porcupine, a herbivore, blanches as the omnivorous Polecat gobbles up crickets and caterpillars) and how they evade predators. Porcupine explains that it runs off when it’s afraid; porcupines can’t shoot their quills, which stick only when something touches them. Polecat notes that before it sprays, it will “spring into a handstand,” walking on its forepaws and imitating a much larger animal, often scaring the predator away. The latest in Esbaum and Shea’s effective series (previous titles covered the parrotfish and the hoatzin bird) is another winner. Polecat’s introductory statements and its conversation with Porcupine carry all the information. The dialogue bubbles are distinctive in color and shape, making things easier for fledgling readers. Both the narrative and the colorful cartoon illustrations brim with appealing humor. These animals have plenty of personality. Though the use of the word polecat makes for clever alliteration (paired with porcupine), it might confuse readers; in some regions of the U.S., this term refers to the black-footed ferret.
Another lively and engaging presentation from a talented pair. (“True or false?” facts about polecats) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: July 15, 2025
ISBN: 9780593699997
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: April 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
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
Serve this superbly designed title to all who relish slightly scary stories.
Kids know vegetables can be scary, but rarely are edible roots out to get someone. In this whimsical mock-horror tale, carrots nearly frighten the whiskers off Jasper Rabbit, an interloper at Crackenhopper Field.
Jasper loves carrots, especially those “free for the taking.” He pulls some in the morning, yanks out a few in the afternoon, and comes again at night to rip out more. Reynolds builds delicious suspense with succinct language that allows understatements to be fully exploited in Brown’s hilarious illustrations. The cartoon pictures, executed in pencil and then digitally colored, are in various shades of gray and serve as a perfectly gloomy backdrop for the vegetables’ eerie orange on each page. “Jasper couldn’t get enough carrots … / … until they started following him.” The plot intensifies as Jasper not only begins to hear the veggies nearby, but also begins to see them everywhere. Initially, young readers will wonder if this is all a product of Jasper’s imagination. Was it a few snarling carrots or just some bathing items peeking out from behind the shower curtain? The ending truly satisfies both readers and the book’s characters alike. And a lesson on greed goes down like honey instead of a forkful of spinach.
Serve this superbly designed title to all who relish slightly scary stories. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 21, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0297-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 1, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2012
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