A delightful tale of fostering connection through art.
A young Korean immigrant makes a new friend while reflecting on an old pal.
Jihun tentatively enters the classroom. “Today is the day I’ll make friends,” the young narrator says. “At least, that’s what I promise myself.” But Jihun’s resolve is shaken when Ms. Alpha explains today’s assignment: “Write a letter to your best friend.” While the other students boast about their many friends, Jihun, who arrived in America just a month ago and has no friends, simply stares at the blank paper. With a gentle push from Ms. Alpha, the protagonist writes the letter O, then reflects on Oto, a gray-and-white cat whom Jihun left behind in Korea. Taking an artistic route, Jihun draws a portrait of Oto using letters: “I write E on its side, like his front legs.” “I swirl an S backward twice, like his tail.” The assignment elicits memories both happy (the two playing together) and sad: Oto’s swishing tail when Jihun waved goodbye to him. Jihun’s classmate Piper notices the portrait and initially warns Jihun to “stop doodling and write.” But eventually Jihun’s artistry intrigues Piper…and leads to a new friendship. Choi’s meditative prose pulses with quiet joys, while the use of softly blended colors brings warmth and charm to the simple cartoons and textured backdrops. Ms. Alpha is brown-skinned, Piper is light-skinned, and the class is diverse.
A delightful tale of fostering connection through art. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: July 9, 2024
ISBN: 9780374391294
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2024
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
Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children.
Interior decorator and TV personality Gaines invites readers to open their eyes and exercise their imaginations.
There’s a world to be explored out there—and only children can really take part. What does “looking for wonder” entail? Slowing down and looking up, around, and everywhere. At the outset, a group of eager, racially diverse young friends—including one who uses a wheelchair—are fully prepared for a grand adventure. They offer tips about how and where to look: Why, there’s a “grand parade” of marching ants! And, these kids add, perspective is key. A rainy day might signal gloom to some, but to those filled with wonder, showers bring “magic puddles for play”; a forest is “an enchanted world,” the ocean conceals “a spectacular city,” and the night sky boasts “extraordinary sights.” The takeaway: “Wonder is never in short supply.” It’s a robust, empowering message, as is the exhortation to “keep your mind open, and let curiosity guide the way.” Youngsters are also advised to share their discoveries. The upbeat narrative is delivered in clunky verse, but the colorful cartoonish illustrations brimming with activity and good cheer (including some adorable anthropomorphized animals in the backgrounds) make up for the textual lapses and should motivate readers to embark on their own “wonder explorations.”
Handy advice for perpetually inquisitive children. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Jan. 28, 2025
ISBN: 9781400247417
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tommy Nelson
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 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.
