A tender story of finding wonder in the world, in oneself, and others.
From author/illustrator Sano, an unusually colored, anthropomorphized zebra struggles to fit in at her new school.
In a world full of humbug-colored zebras, Peppermint has the red stripes of a candy cane. Her Mama encourages her to walk tall and proud, but as the only red-striped zebra at her new school, she feels out of place. She slouches and drags her hooves, which attracts the attention of bullies. Peppermint is very lonely, and yet, outside of school, she demonstrates a wonderful acuity in finding and appreciating uniqueness: a wildflower growing from a crack in a rock; a cloud shaped like a fish; a yoga-posed carrot and a heart-shaped apple. In art class one day, Peppermint feels so isolated, she paints her stripes black to fit in. This, however, only leads to further humiliation…and danger when, sobbing, she runs away down to the plains where the lions roam. Luckily for Peppermint, her purple ribbon–wearing classmate, Zophia, comes to her rescue. From then on, Peppermint and Zophia become best friends. Peppermint does walk tall and proud, and the bullies leave her alone. Peppermint’s tale follows a predictable arc, narrated in straightforward text but with engaging illustrations. Sano combines minimal ink outlines with complex watercolor hues: pastel purples for Peppermint’s feelings; brighter, adjacent colors for the outdoors, wonderous discoveries, and the happy childhood she stands apart from. Through subtle shifts and juxtapositions, Sano, whose previous book was Martie Merganser and the Big Waterfall (2022), captures the uneasy balance that exists between the natural world and the emotional landscape humans map onto it. Zophia’s befriending of Peppermint comes out of the blue, but a closer examination of the preceding pages reveals that this development is no deus ex machina. The relationship—at least from Zophia’s side—is presaged in her art class painting (of Peppermint), and in several scenes prior to that when Zophia, herself a loner, is shown in the background, too shy to approach. Peppermint, like the reader, was just too caught up in her own problems to notice! Such finesses repay multiple readings and make for a beautiful learning experience.
A tender story of finding wonder in the world, in oneself, and others.Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9781633814448
Page Count: 42
Publisher: Maine Authors Publishing
Review Posted Online: June 7, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
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
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A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts.
In this latest slice in the Food Group series, Humble Pie learns to stand up to a busy friend who’s taking advantage of his pal’s hard work on the sidelines.
Jake the Cake and Humble Pie are good friends. Where Pie is content to toil in the background, Jake happily shines in the spotlight. Alert readers will notice that Pie’s always right there, too, getting A-pluses and skiing expertly just behind—while also doing the support work that keeps every school and social project humming. “Fact: Nobody notices pie when there’s cake nearby!” When the two friends pair up for a science project, things begin well. But when the overcommitted Jake makes excuse after excuse, showing up late or not at all, a panicked Pie realizes that they won’t finish in time. When Jake finally shows up on the night before the project’s due, Pie courageously confronts him. “And for once, I wasn’t going to sugarcoat it.” The friends talk it out and collaborate through the night for the project’s successful presentation in class the next day. John and Oswald’s winning recipe—plentiful puns and delightful visual jokes—has yielded another treat here. The narration does skew didactic as it wraps up: “There’s nothing wrong with having a tough conversation, asking for help, or making sure you’re being treated fairly.” But it’s all good fun, in service of some gentle lessons about social-emotional development.
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9780063469730
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
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