A stalwart—but not quite super—read-aloud.
A show of everyday superpowers.
“Today is Superhero Day at school,” and Milly is in a costume made of “all the tinfoil, a tea towel with only one hole…a pair of my brother Joe’s underwear, and a sticker with an M.” Milly knows that real superheroes have X-ray vision or can climb buildings, and starts to feel dejected that a costume doesn’t bestow those same powers. But the slings and arrows of a typical school day give Milly a lot of opportunities to shine in the bright, kid-friendly illustrations. The M sticker can turn upside down to make a W, so William (who forgot a costume) can still participate. Milly helps one classmate with a writing prompt and another with mixing paint, and when Spider Sid makes fun of Incredible Iqbal, Super Milly is a “super good friend” and stands up for him. With the help of some sound effects, the orange-haired, white-skinned protagonist decides that “KABOOM! I am funny. ZAP! I am clever. WHIZZ! I am brave. WHAM! I am a good friend. Those are my superpowers!” (Milly’s classroom is diverse.) Kids looking for a traditional superhero adventure story will want something less mundane than this feel-good resolution, but despite the somewhat bland, one-note approach, this will be useful for teachers and parents looking for resources to inspire small acts of kindness. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.6-by-19.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 20.8% of actual size.)
A stalwart—but not quite super—read-aloud. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 15, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5362-1726-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2021
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
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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