THE WEIRDOTS

In this picture book, Najera details a group of quirky dot-shaped friends, each with their own unique personality.

Juice, an exceedingly happy orange dot with arms and legs, is excited to introduce readers to their friends. As they jog across a field, they first run into Aqua, a careful, steady sort who’s constructing a tower with blocks. The two build a castle together before skipping over to meet Punk, a pink rock-and-roller who leads an impromptu dance party. The trio happen upon Gween, their grumpy friend, whom they cheer up with a communal art session: “Creating art with our new friend, / With care and love, our hearts will mend.” With Gween in a better state, the group joins Purpaul for some imaginary play and seeks out Ewlo, a prankster, at a local fair. Everyone plays on the jungle gym before parting, confident that each is unique and special. Over the course of the story, Najera’s characters are colorful and diverse. However, the tale’s many introductions never build to an event that shows, rather than tells, how the various players make one another better. Figueroa’s rounded, colorful cartoon illustrations effectively set the Weirdots in a bright world with caterpillars, frogs, and other creatures in small background scenes.

A picture book for preschoolers that celebrates difference but ends anticlimactically.