This romp’s adventures—and lessons in kindness—make a cat an adorable role model.
This second installment of a children’s book series follows a compassionate feline to downtown London.
Bunny Simmons-Bloom, a 2-year-old tuxedo cat who lives “a life of international adventure,” is back again—this time in London. Bunny wants to cheer up 10-year-old Lily Hayward, her blond next-door neighbor who gets bullied at school for being “nerdy.” The feline tells readers: “Nothing upsets me more than young humans or animals being mistreated.” As Bunny contemplates how to help her friend, she mentions to Lily that the city is planning a giant fox cull since the animals have been making giant messes and threatening kids and small animals. Horrified by the idea, Lily and Bunny (alongside the girl’s rambunctious golden retriever puppy, Goldy) embark on a quest to warn the foxes and try to work out a solution. They soon run into Freddy Fox, who shows the group just how hard his life can be while trying to scrounge for food and avoid getting hit by cars. He eventually brings them to Chieftess Fox—a haughty leader amusingly illustrated with a jaunty eye patch and plenty of attitude—whose mistrust of humans makes sense once she explains that people have been hunting foxes and encroaching on their natural habitat for years. As Bunny, Lily, and the Chieftess discuss the need to work together, Lily comes up with a brilliant solution that may just save the foxes—and make her a hero in her community. While Bloom’s overly simplistic dialogue may make this a less-than-exciting tale for parents, elementary-age readers will be delighted that they can peruse it on their own. The story brims with worthy lessons about responsibility, altruism, and respect for animals, providing a perfect platform for discussions about these important topics between kids and adults. The sequel also proves to be an entertaining tale that showcases Mayell’s clever and creative illustrations of an endearing feline in a colorful animal world.
This romp’s adventures—and lessons in kindness—make a cat an adorable role model.Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2022
ISBN: 978-0997642544
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Hello Bunny LLC
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Perfect for those looking for a scary Halloween tale that won’t leave them with more fears than they started with. Pair with...
Reynolds and Brown have crafted a Halloween tale that balances a really spooky premise with the hilarity that accompanies any mention of underwear.
Jasper Rabbit needs new underwear. Plain White satisfies him until he spies them: “Creepy underwear! So creepy! So comfy! They were glorious.” The underwear of his dreams is a pair of radioactive-green briefs with a Frankenstein face on the front, the green color standing out all the more due to Brown’s choice to do the entire book in grayscale save for the underwear’s glowing green…and glow they do, as Jasper soon discovers. Despite his “I’m a big rabbit” assertion, that glow creeps him out, so he stuffs them in the hamper and dons Plain White. In the morning, though, he’s wearing green! He goes to increasing lengths to get rid of the glowing menace, but they don’t stay gone. It’s only when Jasper finally admits to himself that maybe he’s not such a big rabbit after all that he thinks of a clever solution to his fear of the dark. Brown’s illustrations keep the backgrounds and details simple so readers focus on Jasper’s every emotion, writ large on his expressive face. And careful observers will note that the underwear’s expression also changes, adding a bit more creep to the tale.
Perfect for those looking for a scary Halloween tale that won’t leave them with more fears than they started with. Pair with Dr. Seuss’ tale of animate, empty pants. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Aug. 22, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0298-0
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
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