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
BOOK REVIEW
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available.
A ghost learns to appreciate his differences.
The little ghost protagonist of this title is unusual. He’s a quilt, not a lightweight sheet like his parents and friends. He dislikes being different despite his mom’s reassurance that his ancestors also had unconventional appearances. Halloween makes the little ghost happy, though. He decides to watch trick-or-treaters by draping over a porch chair—but lands on a porch rail instead. A mom accompanying her daughter picks him up, wraps him around her chilly daughter, and brings him home with them! The family likes his looks and comforting warmth, and the little ghost immediately feels better about himself. As soon as he’s able to, he flies out through the chimney and muses happily that this adventure happened only due to his being a quilt. This odd but gently told story conveys the importance of self-respect and acceptance of one’s uniqueness. The delivery of this positive message has something of a heavy-handed feel and is rushed besides. It also isn’t entirely logical: The protagonist could have been a different type of covering; a blanket, for instance, might have enjoyed an identical experience. The soft, pleasing illustrations’ palette of tans, grays, white, black, some touches of color, and, occasionally, white text against black backgrounds suggest isolation, such as the ghost feels about himself. Most humans, including the trick-or-treating mom and daughter, have beige skin. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-16.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 66.2% of actual size.)
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7352-6447-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.
Not even the arrival of autumn can cool down this impetuous squirrel.
Although Squirrel is skeptical about Bird’s vegetable patch (“Nothing is HAPPENING!”), Bird does produce five (count them) lovely pumpkins. Squirrel picks out a favorite: “The enormous orange one.” Bird hints that Squirrel might want to help out; Squirrel sets out to fetch some work gloves and returns to find only four pumpkins. The frequently distracted Squirrel notices more gourds disappearing and leaps to the conclusion that a thief is near. And where’s Bird?! Has Squirrel’s pal also been taken? Diligently detecting, Squirrel finds clues—peck marks, footprints, and more—and produces a sketch of the suspect. As readers will guess, each clue turns out to point to one of Squirrel and Bird’s friends. Turns out Bird was delivering pumpkins to their pals while saving the big one to give to “my very best friend,” Squirrel. But why does Squirrel haul it up a tree? “So the Pumpkin Thief can’t find it, of course!” A page of pumpkin facts provides the learning component common to all titles in this series. Once more, readers will enjoy the pleasure of prediction and repetition, Squirrel’s silly persistence, Bird’s generosity, and the vibrant color illustrations, balancing orange with green.
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781464268076
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2026
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