A sometimes-silly but sincere story about respecting differences.
A surprising truth about unicorns is revealed in Kilpatrick’s picture book.
An unnamed llama unsuccessfully tries to persuade a group of kids that “Nobody likes unicorns” and llamas are superior. For example, when the llama complains that unicorns shed, one kid retorts, “Don’t llamas shed, too?” (Blanco’s illustrations will appeal to kids, particularly a goofy scene in which the llama water-skis to prove that its wool is water-resistant.) When the llama explains that unicorns have dangerous horns while llamas are “huggable and harmless,” a youngster replies that “unicorn horns are made to help, not hurt!” Finally, when a kid explains that unicorns grant wishes, the llama is intrigued. They all close their eyes and make a wish, and a unicorn approaches. The white creature with a multicolored mane places a headband with a rainbow horn on the llama’s head. The llama proclaims, “I’m a LLAMACORN!!” and concludes that “Nobody likes unicorns…BECAUSE EVERYBODY LOVES THEM!” Readers will enjoy the amusing protagonist and whimsical scenes. Through the llama’s experiences, Kilpatrick emphasizes the importance of learning about others and avoiding presumptions. Some moments include informative educational elements, including a diagram of the llama’s anatomical features and a list of “REASONS TO ALSO LOVE LLAMAS.” The children are a diverse group, portrayed with an array of different skin tones.
A sometimes-silly but sincere story about respecting differences.Pub Date: Oct. 5, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-938447-24-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Genius Cat Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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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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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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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