Predictably upbeat and inviting.
A celebration of difference, connection, and community.
Verde and Reynolds continue their “I Am” picture books with this installment encouraging individuality. A nameless child with brown skin and tight purple curls leads the way. Throughout, a silver remote-control dog, an orange cat, a lion, and another nameless person, with brown skin and a larger body frame, weave in and out alongside statements such as “Difference is what makes life beautiful and miraculous.” Caregivers may want to encourage little ones to spot the characters as they read or listen—a straightforward way to engage alongside the high-level messages of the book. The primary character grows to care and ultimately declare love for the other human character—which could be read as deep friendship or romantic love. “I” statements dominate the text, offering conversation starters. Statements like “I can surround myself with those who see me, stand up for me, and support me” may require longer explanations or discussion. These are balanced by simpler declarations like “I can dance to my own rhythm any time I want to move and groove.” Text and illustrations, featuring graceful, energetic linework, will draw a wide audience. The content will be most meaningful for children who need the confidence boost offered to stay true to themselves while still seeking positive relationships. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Predictably upbeat and inviting. (author’s note with meditation instructions) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-4197-4648-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022
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
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Quirky, familiar fun for series devotees.
After Duncan finds his crayons gone—yet again—letters arrive, detailing their adventures in friendship.
Eleven crayons send missives from their chosen spots throughout Duncan’s home (and one from his classroom). Red enjoys the thrill of extinguishing “pretend fires” with Duncan’s toy firetruck. White, so often dismissed as invisible, finds a new calling subbing in for the missing queen on the black-and-white chessboard. “Now everyone ALWAYS SEES ME!…(Well, half the time!)” Pink’s living the dream as a pastry chef helming the Breezy Bake Oven, “baking everything from little cupcakes…to…OTHER little cupcakes!” Teal, who’s hitched a ride to school in Duncan’s backpack, meets the crayons in the boy’s desk and writes, “Guess what? I HAVE A TWIN! How come you never told me?” Duncan wants to see his crayons and “meet their new friends.” A culminating dinner party assembles the crayons and their many guests: a table tennis ball, dog biscuits, a well-loved teddy bear, and more. The premise—personified crayons, away and back again—is well-trammeled territory by now, after over a dozen books and spinoffs, and Jeffers once more delivers his signature cartooning and hand-lettering. Though the pages lack the laugh-out-loud sight gags and side-splittingly funny asides of previous outings, readers—especially fans of the crayons’ previous outings—will enjoy checking in on their pals.
Quirky, familiar fun for series devotees. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9780593622360
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
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