A snuggly lap-time read-aloud that celebrates those who stand out from the herd.
Van Genechten salutes those who refuse to conform.
The sheep in this book all do the same things at the same time: eating, chewing their cuds, and even lifting their tails and depositing droppings. But Scout is different. Scout dreamingly gazes at a butterfly when everyone else munches grass, sleeps upside down with hooves in the air while the others slumber on their bellies, and glances skyward when it’s time to frolic. On each spread, an unseen narrator explains a typical event in the day of the life of this herd while also encouraging young readers to examine the visuals closely to find Scout, who’s physically similar to the others but always doing something a bit different. The tale ends on a humorous note, with Scout deciding to break free of this relatively humdrum existence. First published in Belgium and the Netherlands and translated from Dutch, the simple text weaves in information about the lives of sheep while supporting those that don’t follow the usual path. Sheep lovers will appreciate the illustrations of the animals, with their heavily textured fleeces, but all readers will enjoy the vivid, ever-changing background colors, which make each page turn a treat. With its gentle, low-key text, this one will lull little ones to sleep while reassuring them that being different is more than OK.
A snuggly lap-time read-aloud that celebrates those who stand out from the herd. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 22, 2025
ISBN: 9798890631510
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clavis
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 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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