Affecting and optimistic.
Leaving behind a beloved Caribbean island home, a child confronts fears of change and the unknown.
With plaited ponytails hanging playfully from pink hair ties, the brown-skinned protagonist looks on unhappily as Mum and Grannie pack up, surrounded by smiling friends and family. “But I don’t know what to take!” says the young narrator. The child decides to go for one final walk, meandering barefoot with a heavy heart past chickens and loose dogs, beneath birds, and toward the beach to enjoy a few final “lasts”—the “last chew of sugarcane, last smell of sweet roast corn.” By the sea, the youngster is enchanted by a “swirly shell”: “Now I know what to pack.” McCarthy’s richly hued gouache and acrylic illustrations exude warmth: The inviting blue of the water nearly matches that of the vast sky, while fuchsia, green, and orange florals pop off the page. She continues to employ bright, dynamic colors as the family travels by plane to an unnamed city, a yellow taxi contrasting with the rest of the traffic. The family’s new home is “enormous,” but the protagonist, hair now in loose coils and tied up in a blue bow, maintains a connection to natural spaces, even befriending a blue jay. Whittingham’s delicately charming tale comes to a gently hopeful conclusion; the depiction of a youngster independently making sense of the turmoil of relocating will speak to children confronting similar changes, big and small.
Affecting and optimistic. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9781773068657
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Groundwood
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: 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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A satisfyingly cozy winter holiday tale.
The protagonist of The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt (2020) enjoys a “boo-tiful” holiday.
The titular spirit—comprised of a patterned quilt rather than a plain white sheet like his peers—loves drifting outside in the cold. His heavier fabrics may slow him down the rest of the year, but in winter they keep him warm enough to enjoy the outdoors while his friends remain inside. One December evening, while visiting the human neighborhood, he notices people singing and putting up twinkling lights (amid the Christmas decorations, one window features a menorah). The little ghost quilt is happy for himself but sad that his pals aren’t witnessing all this, too. The sight of a holiday tree inspires him: He’ll bring a tree to his friends! A branch that blows off during a snowstorm will do nicely. For ornaments, he uses odds and ends from the attic of his house. And when his friends arrive at his home that night, everyone decorates the tree together. The moon, peeping through the window and reflecting off a mirror from the attic, provides the glorious pièce de résistance: The make-believe tree glows brilliantly. This quietly lovely holiday tale underscores the true meaning of the holidays: friendship and togetherness. The illustrations rely on a muted palette with spots of vivid colors; like a quilt, they’re soft and delicate. Human characters vary in skin tone.
A satisfyingly cozy winter holiday tale. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2025
ISBN: 9781774885376
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
