A necessary reminder that a little assertiveness can go a long way.
Squirrel’s attempts to make a present for a friend keep getting interrupted.
Tucked away in her treehouse, Squirrel realizes that Bear’s birthday is tomorrow. She decides to bake special blueberry cookies for him and sets out to gather the berries. But there is only one blueberry bush in the forest, and it is far away. As Squirrel starts to leave, Fox shows up and asks if she can wait around to give the mail carrier a package. Squirrel does not have time but doesn’t know how to say no. Throughout the day, more and more friends ask for favors that Squirrel is unable to deny. She “gets a lump in her throat” and pushes her own needs to the side to help her friends. But when she finally goes looking for the blueberries, it’s late at night and she falls down a hole. Squirrel’s friends come looking for her and help her realize they will still love her even if she has to say no sometimes. Cozy burnt orange tones mixed with cool purples and blues bring to life this tale translated from Spanish. The large-eyed anthropomorphic animals are endearing, and the setting seems both snug (inside Squirrel’s home) and vast (outdoor scenes). Readers who are oh-so-eager to please will hopefully take Squirrel’s lesson to heart. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A necessary reminder that a little assertiveness can go a long way. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 18, 2023
ISBN: 9788419253194
Page Count: 40
Publisher: NubeOcho
Review Posted Online: Jan. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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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