Sweet, subtle, though not as absorbing as previous installments.
Caring for others is noble, but it can be exhausting.
Now starring in his fifth book, Piggy finds a baby hedgehog in the forest. He picks it up gently and, unsure of its care, calls the veterinarian. Diligently complying with the vet’s advice, Piggy provides love, puts the little creature in a box with a blanket, and feeds it goat’s milk every three hours. Then Piggy feels tired (he isn’t shown in bed until after his charge is gone). But his friends worry enough to show up and help. Very soon—a day and a page later—the hedgehog sleeps through the night and feeds itself. Just a page more and the hedgehog is big, returning to the forest as Piggy wishes it luck. When he later reflects on caring for the baby, Piggy thinks only, “It was nice.” And sometimes the hedgehog returns for a sleepover. Delicate line drawings, most from a slightly elevated perspective, are again enlivened by deft touches of red, pale blue, and mustard yellow. Translated from Dutch, the story progresses so swiftly that the ideas of overstretching oneself and of friends’ crucial aid zip past too quickly for a big impact; earlier titles in the series have been a bit more successful. But the simple, spare language could appeal to emerging readers. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Sweet, subtle, though not as absorbing as previous installments. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Oct. 17, 2023
ISBN: 9781605379456
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clavis
Review Posted Online: Aug. 12, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2023
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
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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