A winsome friendship story with an important environmental message.
A lonely bison searches for companionship.
This gentle tale stars an unhappy bison who’s in need of a friend. As Bison searches for “someone to trample through the woods with,” she goes about her usual activities and meets the wildlife neighbors who benefit from her actions. Her habit of tearing off strips of bark to eat attracts insects for the woodpecker to eat, the dung beetle eats the poop she produces, and when she rolls in the dust, she creates spots for the lizard to sunbathe. Though they’re grateful for her help, these creatures prefer staying where they are; they aren’t good friendship candidates for a wandering bison. But a solitary butterfly is a perfect companion for her rambles, and they embark on a beautiful friendship. Hemming uses a lighthearted friendship story to explain the role of a keystone species, which she explores further in the backmatter; she also notes the differences between American and European bison and discusses the Wilder Blean project, which introduces European bison into the woodlands of Blean in the U.K. Leschnikoff’s digital illustrations depict the animals with cartoonlike googly eyes and expressive faces and bodies, but they and their surroundings are recognizable. The effect is sweetly amusing and very appealing.
A winsome friendship story with an important environmental message. (Informational picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9780711295384
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Ivy Kids Eco/Quarto
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2024
Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending.
Don’t let the Pigeon ruin his own special day!
Anyone who has ever encountered the title character in any of his books—whether his first, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (2003), or one of its many sequels—will understand that the bird’s innate self-love drives his every interaction. Little wonder, then, that he’s thrilled about his own “bird-day.” He has the hat. He has his “FANCY PLUMAGE.” And, best of all, he will get to blow out a candle “on my bird-day hot dog!” As he revels in the knowledge that this day is all for him, comeuppance is lurking. Someone has already blown out the bird-day candle—and eaten half the hot dog. It turns out that the Pigeon’s frenemy, the Duckling, has the same bird-day—as do a slew of newly hatched chicks. The Pigeon’s obligatory eight-panel freakout ensues. “What am I—invisible? I just want to be seen,” he whimpers, and when he receives some much-needed reassurance, he settles down and willingly shares his special day. While the switch from unapologetic narcissism to mature acceptance happens in the record-breaking span of two pages, the book is as enchanting as the Pigeon’s earlier outings. Even as it walks in the footsteps of its predecessors, there’s no denying the fun to be had.
Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
ISBN: 9781454999621
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
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Sure to have little ones giggling.
Jacques is a hedgehog with a big secret: “I wear real, bona fide underwear.”
Our narrator received a mysterious package one day; an illustration shows a pair of underwear tied to a balloon with a note “from the Universe” floating down into Jacques’ burrow. Hedgehogs don’t wear underwear, however. Will Jacques be shunned? Jacques worries but comes to a decision: “I have to wear them. When I do I feel special.” Determined, Jacques, who’s been invited to a party, makes a dramatic entrance, with undies in hand. Jacques’ declaration (“I WEAR UNDERWEAR”) is met with remarks of dismay, before another hedgehog opens up about similar fears and shows off a pair of cowboy boots. More hedgehogs introduce themselves with their own confessions. The story ends with Jacques unveiling a painting of the underwear in a gallery filled with hedgehogs wearing all sorts of attire. Though the book is simple in plot, characters, and setting, it wins in its balance of bathroom humor, dramatic storytelling, and celebrations of individual expression. French words are peppered throughout, adding to the fun without detracting from the story for those unfamiliar with the language. The cartoonish illustrations brim with fun; Valdez relies heavily on geometric shapes (triangle noses for the hedgehogs; huge circles for their eyes). Details such as speech bubbles and recurring turtle and snake characters contribute to the outlandish humor.
Sure to have little ones giggling. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9781250814388
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
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