Share with those who will be shepherding and calming their own younger siblings on their first days.
A small bunny uses every excuse to avoid the first day of school.
From an upper bunk, an older bunny peeks over the edge, excited: “Up and at ’em, Bunny Lump.” But the younger one isn’t having it. “I’m too tired”; “What if no one likes me?”; “My socks are too short”; “My tummy hurts.” The older sib has some solid suggestions, from packing a favorite stuffed animal to wearing something that will calm the jitters, like their own glittery shoes. But even this determined optimist concedes that “Sometimes you just feel like crying before you feel like trying.” As the duo joins their mother in the kitchen, the older sibling lists the things the younger one is already good at. Oddly, Mom never speaks, simply snapping a cellphone pic of her kids before a page turn sees them at the classroom door, the older sibling saying, “You’re a brave bunny. You can do this.” The dialogue-only text is color-coded, red for the elder, who wears a skirt, striped tights, and sparkly mary janes in shades of pink and purple, and blue for the younger, in red Velcro sneakers, a tiger tail, tan shorts, and a blue “super shirt.” Mom’s in scrubs with green crocs. Faces and body language are expressive, though in one scene, oddly, the older sibling’s expression slips, looking sad or sleepy rather than cheerful.
Share with those who will be shepherding and calming their own younger siblings on their first days. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 18, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68437-812-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Boyds Mills
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2020
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators.
Existing artwork from an artistic giant inspires a fairy-tale reimagination by a master of the horror genre.
In King’s interpretation of a classic Brothers Grimm story, which accompanies set and costume designs that the late Sendak created for a 1997 production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera, siblings Hansel and Gretel survive abandonment in the woods and an evil witch’s plot to gobble them up before finding their “happily ever after” alongside their father. Prose with the reassuring cadence of an old-timey tale, paired with Sendak’s instantly recognizable artwork, will lull readers before capitalizing on these creators’ knack for injecting darkness into seemingly safe spaces. Gaping faces loom in crevices of rocks and trees, and a gloomy palette of muted greens and ocher amplify the story’s foreboding tone, while King never sugarcoats the peach-skinned children’s peril. Branches with “clutching fingers” hide “the awful enchanted house” of a “child-stealing witch,” all portrayed in an eclectic mix of spot and full-bleed images. Featuring insults that might strike some as harsh (“idiot,” “fool”), the lengthy, dense text may try young readers’ patience, and the often overwhelmingly ominous mood feels more pitched to adults—particularly those familiar with King and Sendak—but an introduction acknowledges grandparents as a likely audience, and nostalgia may prompt leniency over an occasional disconnect between words and art.
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9780062644695
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2025
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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