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THIS IS A WINDOW

Perfectly captures the rich, fulfilling world of childhood fun to be found in the seemingly mundane.

An ode to childhood play and the boundlessness of imagination.

The tots in this book embark on wild flights of fancy. The space between two coats in a closet becomes a window. A bookshelf with stuffed animals is transformed into a zoo. A picnic table doubles as a boat and a train. Concise sentences describe each scene: “This is an office. And now it’s a store.” Playful questions invite reader participation: “If this is a hat, could this be a shoe?” The accompanying image depicts a child first wearing a shoe as a hat and then using a pillow as a shoe. Soft, flat illustrations full of texture and pattern provide visual interest without becoming overwhelming. The art makes clear what’s happening in each scene while still leaving room for readers to imagine alternate scenarios. On one page, a child plays in a hole dug by a dog. The child sits in the hole, puts a toy inside, and then fills it in, but readers can also come up with their own interpretations of what the little one is doing—or chime in with what they’d like to do. Adults sharing this book with children will marvel at the sense of wonder it conveys, while children will eagerly accept the invitation to use their own imaginations. The children have a range of different skin and hair colors.

Perfectly captures the rich, fulfilling world of childhood fun to be found in the seemingly mundane. (Picture book. 3-5)

Pub Date: April 9, 2024

ISBN: 9781662651595

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Minerva/Astra Books for Young Readers

Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2024

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PERFECTLY NORMAN

From the Big Bright Feelings series

A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.

A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.

Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”

A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)

Pub Date: May 1, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018

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IF WE WERE DOGS

Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say.

A dog-loving child encourages a less-than-enthusiastic younger one to imagine they’re both canines.

From the first declaration—“I’d be a big dog! And you’d be a little one!”—readers know who’s calling the shots. Initially, the protagonists cavort off the page and through the neighborhood together, performing doggy capers such as tail wagging, stick carrying, and dirt digging. But by the time they encounter a multitude of like-minded creatures at the dog park, the disgruntled small pup is exhibiting out-and-out rebellion: “Being a dog is YOUR idea! Sometimes I HAVE IDEAS TOO!” The narrative wraps up with the younger child pretending to be a different animal entirely—cleverly foreshadowed through subtle details in the illustrations. Even the endpapers—lively silhouettes of dogs in the beginning and many different animals in closing—extend the theme to suggest the imaginative possibilities of pretend play. Cheerful, lightly hued colors fit the whimsical mood, while expressive body language allows the art to tell the story with a minimum of words. Ending on a surprising note, with a sweet compromise between the two main characters, the tale gives both kids the freedom to embrace their own preferences and styles—while still enjoying their game.

Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say. (Picture book. 3-5)

Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025

ISBN: 9780316581721

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025

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