Next book

THE BEAR, THE BOOK, AND THE BLANKET

A silly bedtime caper, likely to elicit more giggles than yawns.

A fluffle of bunnies are on an alliterative mission to get a human infant to sleep.

Ten bright-blue rabbits, each with names beginning with B, tromp into Baby’s room. The narrator quickly reminds the bunnies that it’s Baby’s bedtime. “SHHHHHHH.” But wait. “Baby needs Bear, Book, and Blanket.” The cottontails quickly begin searching for Baby’s teddy. Many are found, but none of them are Baby’s cherished plaything. Finally, Baby is reunited with Bear. (Turns out one of the bunnies, Bobbie, had found the plush toy and was reluctant to part with it—a scene that will have readers chuckling.) Time to find Book and Blanket! As the eager bunnies scurry off chaotically, the weary narrator tries to rein them in: “Bunnies…you don’t need to take all the books off all the shelves.” (A nonplussed cat looks on.) The bunnies all wear distinct items of clothing so readers can follow their various paths, noting their contributions toward Baby’s nighttime goal. The droll narration pairs well with the scampering helpers, who never give up. Understandably, all the bunnies are exhausted by book’s end. It’s now time for them to snuggle up with their own bears, books, and blankets. Hopefully, sleepy readers will follow suit. In Adamson’s flat, exaggerated cartoon art, Baby has brown skin and a single squiggle of brown hair.

A silly bedtime caper, likely to elicit more giggles than yawns. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2024

ISBN: 9798887771007

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Nosy Crow

Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2024

Awards & Accolades

Likes

  • Readers Vote
  • 14


Our Verdict

  • Our Verdict
  • GET IT


  • New York Times Bestseller

Next book

DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE SLEIGH!

A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.

Awards & Accolades

Likes

  • Readers Vote
  • 14


Our Verdict

  • Our Verdict
  • GET IT


  • New York Times Bestseller

Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.

This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”

A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023

ISBN: 9781454952770

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Union Square Kids

Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023

Next book

LITTLE RED SLEIGH

Sadly, the storytelling runs aground.

A little red sleigh has big Christmas dreams.

Although the detailed, full-color art doesn’t anthropomorphize the protagonist (which readers will likely identify as a sled and not a sleigh), a close third-person text affords the object thoughts and feelings while assigning feminine pronouns. “She longed to become Santa’s big red sleigh,” reads an early line establishing the sleigh’s motivation to leave her Christmas-shop home for the North Pole. Other toys discourage her, but she perseveres despite creeping self-doubt. A train and truck help the sleigh along, and when she wishes she were big, fast, and powerful like them, they offer encouragement and counsel patience. When a storm descends after the sleigh strikes out on her own, an unnamed girl playing in the snow brings her to a group of children who all take turns riding the sleigh down a hill. When the girl brings her home, the sleigh is crestfallen she didn’t reach the North Pole. A convoluted happily-ever-after ending shows a note from Santa that thanks the sleigh for giving children joy and invites her to the North Pole next year. “At last she understood what she was meant to do. She would build her life up spreading joy, one child at a time.” Will she leave the girl’s house to be gifted to other children? Will she stay and somehow also reach ever more children? Readers will be left wondering. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 31.8% of actual size.)

Sadly, the storytelling runs aground. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-72822-355-1

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland

Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2020

Close Quickview