A stunning, tender testament to the idea that small acts of kindness, one by one, make a huge impact.
To save the world, first start small.
Koo the panda tells Uncle Stillwater they want to save the world. “That’s a very big idea,” the adult panda muses, not discouraging Koo but quietly suggesting the two of them attempt more manageable goals first. They do, beginning by tidying Koo’s messy bedroom, which Koo enjoys because putting things where they belong makes them feel “not so jumbled up.” The pair proceed with other small tasks: attending to their cat’s needs; baking a cake to welcome new, brown-skinned neighbors; riding bikes; and halting an oncoming truck to allow a duck family to safely cross a road. They also discuss big questions throughout the day (do fish understand the vastness of the ocean? How do we deal with worries about the fate of the world?). Afterward, Stillwater rejoices in what Koo has accomplished, telling the little one, “Each time you do something good, you save the world a little bit.” Powerful words indeed, and mission accomplished! This beautifully told story makes clear that, with patient guidance, praise, and role modeling from loving grown-ups, children can learn to be kind and caring and to “save the world” in small, doable ways. The delicate watercolor-and-pencil illustrations suit the lovely message and perfectly capture the bond between adult and child. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A stunning, tender testament to the idea that small acts of kindness, one by one, make a huge impact. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9781338812312
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 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
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Quirky, familiar fun for series devotees.
After Duncan finds his crayons gone—yet again—letters arrive, detailing their adventures in friendship.
Eleven crayons send missives from their chosen spots throughout Duncan’s home (and one from his classroom). Red enjoys the thrill of extinguishing “pretend fires” with Duncan’s toy firetruck. White, so often dismissed as invisible, finds a new calling subbing in for the missing queen on the black-and-white chessboard. “Now everyone ALWAYS SEES ME!…(Well, half the time!)” Pink’s living the dream as a pastry chef helming the Breezy Bake Oven, “baking everything from little cupcakes…to…OTHER little cupcakes!” Teal, who’s hitched a ride to school in Duncan’s backpack, meets the crayons in the boy’s desk and writes, “Guess what? I HAVE A TWIN! How come you never told me?” Duncan wants to see his crayons and “meet their new friends.” A culminating dinner party assembles the crayons and their many guests: a table tennis ball, dog biscuits, a well-loved teddy bear, and more. The premise—personified crayons, away and back again—is well-trammeled territory by now, after over a dozen books and spinoffs, and Jeffers once more delivers his signature cartooning and hand-lettering. Though the pages lack the laugh-out-loud sight gags and side-splittingly funny asides of previous outings, readers—especially fans of the crayons’ previous outings—will enjoy checking in on their pals.
Quirky, familiar fun for series devotees. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9780593622360
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
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