A sweet animal story underscoring joy, friendship, and sharing with others.
A fox presents gifts to his friends in this picture book.
Fox keeps a collection of items, including socks, clocks, and rocks, in a special black box. But when his “pile of things grew into a mountain of stuff” and no longer fits in the box, Fox decides to distribute some of the objects to friends. For example, he gives Sofia, his light-skinned human best friend, a clock because she doesn’t have one; donates building blocks to Bear, who “only had one”; and hopes the squirrels will repurpose his socks into “mittens and…smocks.” Fox’s friends respond positively. They offer Fox “things that filled up his heart but not his black box,” like a smile, a hug, a chat over tea, and a “thank you.” That night, the friends gather for a party. Now, Fox feels “light and at ease.” The critter appreciates his streamlined collection “because that’s what happens when less...becomes more.” Featuring a straightforward plot and kindhearted characters, Klassen’s engaging tale emphasizes important lessons regarding reusing items and creating space while helping friends. Fox is a resourceful and thoughtful protagonist. Thiessen’s illustrations are delightful. Many depict outdoor scenes utilizing autumnal tones, including browns, oranges, greens, and grays. Ornate forest backdrops feature leafy trees, twinkling lights, and adorable woodland creatures. Readers will enjoy the quirky touches, such as an owl wearing a scarf and a cheerful rabbit playing on a tree swing.
A sweet animal story underscoring joy, friendship, and sharing with others.Pub Date: Nov. 17, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-9992448-0-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Big Mind Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 16, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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