A rosy take on selfhood.
Pink has an identity crisis.
When Pink (an anthropomorphic pink shape with stick arms and legs, wearing cowboy boots and a unicorn horn) hears about the Rainbow Extravaganza from the Primaries and the Secondaries, she wonders why she’s never been involved before. “This is awkward,” frets Orange as Pink confronts the fact that although the others don’t mean to exclude her out of cruelty, she doesn’t belong in the color spectrum. Pink departs and encounters a group of Tints. Next, color theory intertwines with narrative to teach readers about relationships between colors: Text spoken by Brown (who later identifies themselves as a Shade, or a color mixed with black) explains that Tints are colors mixed with white and that Pink belongs to that group along with Coral, Mint, Lavender, Buttercup, and Sky. Despite Brown’s efforts, however, Pink is still having a “midcolor crisis,” but then Gray, an achromatic color and the protagonist of Ward’s earlier title This Book Is Gray, provides reassurance, saying, “Well, you’re definitely a color in my book,” cleverly alluding to Pink’s cameo appearance in that picture book while also supporting her struggle to define herself in this one. With Gray’s help, Pink embraces her Tint identity, saying, “I’m a happy color. And happiness is for everyone.” Who could argue with that? Ward’s cast of colors, pink-cheeked and wearing accessories, speak in color-coded speech bubbles; appropriately, pink hues dominate the exuberant art. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A rosy take on selfhood. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5420-2686-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Two Lions
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2022
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators.
Existing artwork from an artistic giant inspires a fairy-tale reimagination by a master of the horror genre.
In King’s interpretation of a classic Brothers Grimm story, which accompanies set and costume designs that the late Sendak created for a 1997 production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera, siblings Hansel and Gretel survive abandonment in the woods and an evil witch’s plot to gobble them up before finding their “happily ever after” alongside their father. Prose with the reassuring cadence of an old-timey tale, paired with Sendak’s instantly recognizable artwork, will lull readers before capitalizing on these creators’ knack for injecting darkness into seemingly safe spaces. Gaping faces loom in crevices of rocks and trees, and a gloomy palette of muted greens and ocher amplify the story’s foreboding tone, while King never sugarcoats the peach-skinned children’s peril. Branches with “clutching fingers” hide “the awful enchanted house” of a “child-stealing witch,” all portrayed in an eclectic mix of spot and full-bleed images. Featuring insults that might strike some as harsh (“idiot,” “fool”), the lengthy, dense text may try young readers’ patience, and the often overwhelmingly ominous mood feels more pitched to adults—particularly those familiar with King and Sendak—but an introduction acknowledges grandparents as a likely audience, and nostalgia may prompt leniency over an occasional disconnect between words and art.
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9780062644695
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 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
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