A sweet story of learning about the world and changing it for the better.
Ritchie’s middle-grade debut novel sees a curious young fairy develop an interest in bees, which his people treat as taboo.
Nine-year-old Bosco lives in Somewhere, a fairy community in the mountains of North America. Unlike the fairies of Fairy Land, which is kept locked away from the rest of the world behind an energy Barrier, Bosco’s people exist at one with nature. They cooperate with the birds and animals and practice ecologically responsible methods of subsistence. Bosco loves his life and his home, but the Ten-Year Rule hangs over his head—a decree by Queen Madrina that all young fairies must choose a life path by their 10th year or be indentured for five years at the Royal Court. Bosco has a great affinity for flying, so he thinks that perhaps he’ll study birds. However, he finds himself increasingly fascinated by bees; the only problem is that all fairies—even the open-minded folk of Somewhere—deeply dislike his new insect friends. What dark history is there between fairies and bees? And will Bosco be forced to leave his mountain home? Ritchie’s prose style feels every bit as natural as her protagonist’s surroundings. The dialogue is unobtrusive, and the plot unfolds with simple elegance, hinting at dangers but never allowing them to develop too far. Bosco is an inquisitive and likable protagonist who’s principled, positive, and personable. The other fairies of Somewhere are similarly agreeable, and each feels distinct; the fairies from the other side of the Barrier have more edge to them, yet their intrusion into Bosco’s world feels more a clash of cultures than a villainous act. Humankind lurks as a threat, but it, too, isn’t antagonistic; instead, it shows a critical failure to understand the balance of nature. Ritchie makes the ecological underpinnings of Bosco’s discoveries clear throughout. The message, though, is delivered not with a heavy hand but with the straightforwardness of a child’s perspective, unencumbered by adult rationalizations. The result is an easygoing, refreshing adventure that young readers will treasure.
A sweet story of learning about the world and changing it for the better.Pub Date: Jan. 15, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-64921-929-9
Page Count: 156
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
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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