A cute addition to any Halloween shelf.
Stand out in a crowd by being yourself!
Sleepy Sheepy returns just in time to prepare for some spooktacular celebrations. As October approaches, he and his family visit a Halloween store to select Sleepy Sheepy’s costume. He discovers the last werewolf costume, and he pictures himself as a “sheep in wolf’s clothing.” Although Pa has a few other suggestions, Sleepy Sheepy remains adamant, and he gets the costume. On Halloween, the outfit is less comfortable than he expected, but he suits up and heads out…only to discover that his “lone wolf” is actually one of a very large pack. His disappointment at having picked out a less-than-original costume doesn’t last long; he soon reemerges from home in a different get-up, one that’s more in line with his general vibe. All is well, and a tired sheep eventually heads home to bed. Astute readers may pick up on a few visual hints about what’s to come: a sale flyer in Sleepy Sheepy’s hand as he and his family enter the store, sale signs, and a near-empty rack of costumes. Savvy caregivers and educators can use these clues to start a conversation to build predictive skills in young readers. The book is also a useful example for showing kids the importance of pivoting when life doesn’t go as planned. The illustrations—a combination of scanned watercolor textures and digital paint—are simple but amusing, particularly when relaying emotions through facial expressions. Not too sweet and not too scary, this one is just right.
A cute addition to any Halloween shelf. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: July 15, 2025
ISBN: 9780593693896
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: today
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This bunny escapes all the traps but fails to find a logical plot or an emotional connection with readers.
The bestselling series (How to Catch an Elf, 2016, etc.) about capturing mythical creatures continues with a story about various ways to catch the Easter Bunny as it makes its annual deliveries.
The bunny narrates its own story in rhyming text, beginning with an introduction at its office in a manufacturing facility that creates Easter eggs and candy. The rabbit then abruptly takes off on its delivery route with a tiny basket of eggs strapped to its back, immediately encountering a trap with carrots and a box propped up with a stick. The narrative focuses on how the Easter Bunny avoids increasingly complex traps set up to catch him with no explanation as to who has set the traps or why. These traps include an underground tunnel, a fluorescent dance floor with a hidden pit of carrots, a robot bunny, pirates on an island, and a cannon that shoots candy fish, as well as some sort of locked, hazardous site with radiation danger. Readers of previous books in the series will understand the premise, but others will be confused by the rabbit’s frenetic escapades. Cartoon-style illustrations have a 1960s vibe, with a slightly scary, bow-tied bunny with chartreuse eyes and a glowing palette of neon shades that shout for attention.
This bunny escapes all the traps but fails to find a logical plot or an emotional connection with readers. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4926-3817-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Jan. 16, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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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