A sweet animal tale that encourages young readers to love what makes them unique.
Roman, the award-winning children’s book author, presents a charming picture book about friendship and embracing difference.
Henrietta Hedgehog doesn’t want to go to school, because the other animals make fun of her quills and think they’re scary. Once she gets there, she puts on a mask that makes her look just like Bella Beaver. However, Bella thinks that Henrietta’s making fun of her because of the mask’s big teeth; in addition, Henrietta finds that her mask doesn’t even stop the teasing. At recess, Bella confesses to Henrietta that she wishes she had sharp quills to protect her from kids who make fun of her. This admission encourages other animals to step forward with what makes them targets of teasing, including Spencer Squirrel’s “Squeaky” nickname and Wally Weasel’s short legs. Finally, Dylan Deer shares his mom’s assertion that what makes us different makes us beautiful. Henrietta’s “prickly problem,” expressed in Arkova’s bold, colorful cartoon illustrations and Roman’s simple prose, is one that is certain to resonate with children who may be nervous about their own differences. The message of social acceptance is laid out clearly and quickly. Overall, this is a book that’s likely to spark meaningful conversations between younger and older people—a worthy goal for any kids’ book.
A sweet animal tale that encourages young readers to love what makes them unique.Pub Date: Jan. 3, 2023
ISBN: 9781950080083
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Chelshire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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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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BOOK REVIEW
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among
Pete, the cat who couldn’t care less, celebrates Christmas with his inimitable lassitude.
If it weren’t part of the title and repeated on every other page, readers unfamiliar with Pete’s shtick might have a hard time arriving at “groovy” to describe his Christmas celebration, as the expressionless cat displays not a hint of groove in Dean’s now-trademark illustrations. Nor does Pete have a great sense of scansion: “On the first day of Christmas, / Pete gave to me… / A road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” The cat is shown at the wheel of a yellow microbus strung with garland and lights and with a star-topped tree tied to its roof. On the second day of Christmas Pete gives “me” (here depicted as a gray squirrel who gets on the bus) “2 fuzzy gloves, and a road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” On the third day, he gives “me” (now a white cat who joins Pete and the squirrel) “3 yummy cupcakes,” etc. The “me” mentioned in the lyrics changes from day to day and gift to gift, with “4 far-out surfboards” (a frog), “5 onion rings” (crocodile), and “6 skateboards rolling” (a yellow bird that shares its skateboards with the white cat, the squirrel, the frog, and the crocodile while Pete drives on). Gifts and animals pile on until the microbus finally arrives at the seaside and readers are told yet again that it’s all “GROOVY!”
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among . (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-267527-9
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
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