An instant wintertime classic; children will snuggle up for rereads for years to come.
The gentle elderly zookeeper introduced in the Steads’ Caldecott Medal–winning A Sick Day for Amos McGee (2010) returns for another break from his usual routine.
Unlike in previous stories, this time, no one is ill, and no one misses the bus. Instead, the much-anticipated first snowfall of the season creates a special day filled with play and hot chocolate. Amos, of course, sets a cozy tone from the start, sipping tea at home while he awaits news of the snow, then commuting by bus to the zoo to finish up some knitting projects for the animals. Each creature receives something from the kindly zookeeper, and most of these knitted items are red, making them stand out from the muted, cool palette of the print-block illustrations and subtly recalling the snowsuit that Peter wears in Ezra Jack Keats’ classic tale The Snowy Day. Adding just a bit of drama to the quietly enchanting story, the snow doesn’t arrive as expected, instead falling overnight to create “a soft blanket that cover[s] up the neighborhood.” The friends then enjoy the delayed snow day together, their joy best captured in a sumptuous wordless spread showing them in a diagonal, downhill trajectory on sleds, skis, and (in the case of the penguin and tortoise) their own bodies. Amos’ skin is the white of the page.
An instant wintertime classic; children will snuggle up for rereads for years to come. (Picture book. 2-7)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781250324733
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: today
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school...
The familiar theme of the challenges facing a new kid in town is given an original treatment by photographer Border in this book of photos of three-dimensional objects in a simple modeled landscape.
Peanut Butter is represented by a slice of white bread spread with the popular condiment. The other characters in the story—a hamburger with a pair of hot dogs in tow, a bowl of alphabet soup, a meatball jumping a rope of spaghetti, a carton of French fries and a pink cupcake—are represented by skillfully crafted models of these foods, anthropomorphized using simple wire construction. Rejected by each character in turn in his search for playmates, Peanut Butter discovers in the end that Jelly is his true match (not Cupcake, as the title suggests), perhaps because she is the only one who looks like him, being a slice of white bread spread with jelly. The friendly foods end up happily playing soccer together. Some parents may have trouble with the unabashedly happy depiction of carbs and American junk food (no carrots or celery sticks in this landscape), and others may find themselves troubled by the implication that friendship across difference is impossible.
Still, preschoolers will likely savor this mouthwatering treatment of a subject that looms large in many early school experiences. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: July 29, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-399-16773-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2014
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