A page-turner of an adventure story about challenging preconceived notions and building empathy and compassion.
Once upon a time, a long time ago, Freya and Sylas lived in a village in a magic kingdom where everyone feared a dragon.
Although it isn’t clear if any villagers have actually met the dragon, rumor has it that the beast is heartless, ruthless, and cruel. Unlike their fellow villagers, Freya and Sylas find the dragon fascinating as well as terrifying. The children spend hours together reading stories about the dragon, becoming dragon experts, each reassuring the other that they are interested but not afraid. When an enormous snowstorm freezes the village, Freya and Sylas are sure that the dragon is to blame. Together, they decide to scale the mountain near their village where the dragon supposedly lives—something that, in their entire village, only they are courageous enough to attempt. But when they finally reach the dragon, Freya and Sylas get a surprise: It turns out that the dragon is nothing like what anyone in their village imagined. Could it be, Freya and Sylas wonder, that the dragon isn’t evil at all? This sweet tale of adventure, courage, and compassion is a warmhearted reminder of the dangers of stereotypes and the power of perspective and hope. The manga-style illustrations are colorful and detailed—full of whimsical touches—perfectly complementing the fairy-tale–inspired prose. The story’s moral, while clear, is more lighthearted than preachy, rendering the happy ending entirely satisfying. Freya has light-brown skin and poufy brown hair; Sylas has pale skin and black hair in a topknot. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.3-by-18.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 32.1% of actual size.)
A page-turner of an adventure story about challenging preconceived notions and building empathy and compassion. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: March 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-358-27242-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 24, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2021
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
Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story.
A home-renovation project is interrupted by a family of wrens, allowing a young girl an up-close glimpse of nature.
Renata and her father enjoy working on upgrading their bathroom, installing a clawfoot bathtub, and cutting a space for a new window. One warm night, after Papi leaves the window space open, two wrens begin making a nest in the bathroom. Rather than seeing it as an unfortunate delay of their project, Renata and Papi decide to let the avian carpenters continue their work. Renata witnesses the birth of four chicks as their rosy eggs split open “like coats that are suddenly too small.” Renata finds at a crucial moment that she can help the chicks learn to fly, even with the bittersweet knowledge that it will only hasten their exits from her life. Rosen uses lively language and well-chosen details to move the story of the baby birds forward. The text suggests the strong bond built by this Afro-Latinx father and daughter with their ongoing project without needing to point it out explicitly, a light touch in a picture book full of delicate, well-drawn moments and precise wording. Garoche’s drawings are impressively detailed, from the nest’s many small bits to the developing first feathers on the chicks and the wall smudges and exposed wiring of the renovation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)
Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: March 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-12320-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021
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