Monstrously encouraging, entertaining fun.
An uncertain young monster gets tough.
Seth should instill dread with his sharp fangs and claws, his intimidating horns, and his odorous drool. But instead of terrorizing people, Seth cowers in fear from just about everything. One day his friend Ruthie asks for his help finding her missing turtle. Seth confesses he’s afraid of turtles. Ruthie encourages him to “monster up” (“Show some fangs! Roar!”), and he agrees to try it. The pals search everywhere: Ruthie’s cellar, a creek, and the woods, all of which frighten Seth. Ruth periodically reminds him to “monster up,” but when the pair stumble upon what might be a haunted house, it’s Seth’s turn to bolster the frightened Ruthie’s flagging confidence. He tells her to monster up! A riotous twist reveals some residents—a group of bats—who are terrified of Seth…and vice versa! As for the turtle? The young monsters find her when they return home. Inhabiting a familiar suburban setting, Marko’s endearing, stick figure–like creatures are more goofy than scary. Kids will enjoy poring over the multiple levels of the various houses the pair explore; adorable ghosties can be found throughout the haunted house, unbeknownst to Seth and Ruthie. Readers will adore this warm, comical story reassuring them they can learn to overcome anxieties. Onomatopoeic sound effects are incorporated into the humorous, dynamic illustrations.
Monstrously encouraging, entertaining fun. (fun facts on turtles, information on World Turtle Day, turtle resources) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781665938938
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Nov. 23, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 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
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Quirky, familiar fun for series devotees.
After Duncan finds his crayons gone—yet again—letters arrive, detailing their adventures in friendship.
Eleven crayons send missives from their chosen spots throughout Duncan’s home (and one from his classroom). Red enjoys the thrill of extinguishing “pretend fires” with Duncan’s toy firetruck. White, so often dismissed as invisible, finds a new calling subbing in for the missing queen on the black-and-white chessboard. “Now everyone ALWAYS SEES ME!…(Well, half the time!)” Pink’s living the dream as a pastry chef helming the Breezy Bake Oven, “baking everything from little cupcakes…to…OTHER little cupcakes!” Teal, who’s hitched a ride to school in Duncan’s backpack, meets the crayons in the boy’s desk and writes, “Guess what? I HAVE A TWIN! How come you never told me?” Duncan wants to see his crayons and “meet their new friends.” A culminating dinner party assembles the crayons and their many guests: a table tennis ball, dog biscuits, a well-loved teddy bear, and more. The premise—personified crayons, away and back again—is well-trammeled territory by now, after over a dozen books and spinoffs, and Jeffers once more delivers his signature cartooning and hand-lettering. Though the pages lack the laugh-out-loud sight gags and side-splittingly funny asides of previous outings, readers—especially fans of the crayons’ previous outings—will enjoy checking in on their pals.
Quirky, familiar fun for series devotees. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9780593622360
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
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