An uplifting reminder that sometimes a good friend can help us through the seemingly toughest of hurdles.
Max overcomes his show-and-tell anxiety.
Max, a white dog with floppy ears and brown spots, is nervous for show and tell—it never seems to go well for him. But this time, a little voice whispers, “Dare to see what you can do.” So Max explains to his canine classmates, in rhyme, how he came up with something to bring to show and tell. As he searched his space-themed bedroom, he was at a loss until a “strange blue thingy” landed in his closet. Using telepathic bubbles, the astronaut told Max that his name was Moonbeam and that he came from the moon. Moonbeam shared moon tales, then asked Max to come to the moon to be his show and tell. At first, Max declined, but after Moonbeam praised Max’s courage and cleverness, the two soared off for an adventure in space. Show and tell on the moon was a hit, and Max asked Moonbeam to be his show and tell. Moonbeam agreed, but at the crucial reveal, the little blue alien isn’t there, although the ending is still spectacular. Moonbeam later explains he was right beside Max, encouraging him as any good friend would. Vibrant and detailed digitally created cartoon images add to the magic of this feel-good friendship story that will leave uncertain little ones feeling as bolstered as Max. Plenty of humor—including a couple of fart jokes—will appeal to kids. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An uplifting reminder that sometimes a good friend can help us through the seemingly toughest of hurdles. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 30, 2023
ISBN: 9780062990389
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Feb. 7, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2023
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
A sweet notion that falls flat.
A hit song reimagined as a book about parental love.
Featured in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1, Perri’s “A Thousand Years” deals with the speaker’s fear of romantic love. In picture-book form, it explores a parent’s unwavering love for a child, who grows from an infant into a toddler over the course of the narrative. The caregiver expresses awe when the youngster learns to stand and fear that the child might fall while beginning to walk. “I have spent every day waiting for you,” the parent says. “Darling, don’t be afraid.” What the child might fear isn’t clear from the joyful balloon- and rainbow-filled illustrations. The story borders on cloying, and words that might work when sung and accompanied by music don’t sound fresh on the page: “Time goes by. / You grow ever stronger as you fly.” The refrain, however, is a lovely sentiment: “I have loved you for a thousand years. / I’ll love you for a thousand more.” Perri’s legion of fans may flock to this version, illustrated by Ruiz with sparkling stars, bubbles, and big-eyed toddlers, but it doesn’t hold together as a narrative or an ode, as it’s billed, and it’s a long way from the original song. The child is tan-skinned, the parent is lighter-skinned, and other characters are diverse.
A sweet notion that falls flat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9780593622599
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
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