A pleaser about the magic of books.
Wish fulfillment goes awry when a boy who loves books doesn’t love that his classmates have literary tastes that diverge from his.
Reading is tan-skinned Arnold’s “all-time favorite thing to do.” He’s partial to a book called The History of Flight and can’t understand why his chums in Room 6 prefer books about topics like tomatoes (“Yuck”) and ostriches (“Huh?”). When Arnold wishes that he could “can all the tomato books,” make the ostrich books “fly away,” and so on, the titles vanish from the classroom, as does (oopsie) his treasured The History of Flight. As the kids take turns explaining to Arnold why their chosen books appeal to them, he finally sees the light, and the volumes reappear. Ultimately, Arnold comes to realize that his “all-time favorite thing to do” involves both reading and good company. The book’s premise is a bit wobbly—would a child really be so upset about another kid’s preferred reading material that he would want to eliminate it?—unless, of course, one reads this title as a parable about censorship. Either way, the story is funny and diverting, and its “different strokes for different folks” message comes through loud and clear. Santat’s digitally colored ink-drawn illustrations present a mix of ethnically diverse children with cartoonish facial features. Throughout the story, the kids’ mental pictures of their books’ contents hover enticingly over their heads like borderless thought balloons.
A pleaser about the magic of books. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 15, 2025
ISBN: 9781368110655
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 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
A satisfyingly cozy winter holiday tale.
The protagonist of The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt (2020) enjoys a “boo-tiful” holiday.
The titular spirit—comprised of a patterned quilt rather than a plain white sheet like his peers—loves drifting outside in the cold. His heavier fabrics may slow him down the rest of the year, but in winter they keep him warm enough to enjoy the outdoors while his friends remain inside. One December evening, while visiting the human neighborhood, he notices people singing and putting up twinkling lights (amid the Christmas decorations, one window features a menorah). The little ghost quilt is happy for himself but sad that his pals aren’t witnessing all this, too. The sight of a holiday tree inspires him: He’ll bring a tree to his friends! A branch that blows off during a snowstorm will do nicely. For ornaments, he uses odds and ends from the attic of his house. And when his friends arrive at his home that night, everyone decorates the tree together. The moon, peeping through the window and reflecting off a mirror from the attic, provides the glorious pièce de résistance: The make-believe tree glows brilliantly. This quietly lovely holiday tale underscores the true meaning of the holidays: friendship and togetherness. The illustrations rely on a muted palette with spots of vivid colors; like a quilt, they’re soft and delicate. Human characters vary in skin tone.
A satisfyingly cozy winter holiday tale. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2025
ISBN: 9781774885376
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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