A soothing tale for even the wiggliest of little ones.
A restless young bunny turns to yoga when she gets lost in the woods.
Yo-Yo bounces, jiggles, wiggles, and giggles. Grandpa decides that he’s going to teach her—and all the little bunnies—yoga in order to help them feel calm. Roly and Flo don’t seem to have any trouble following along as Grandpa demonstrates the various poses, but Yo-Yo is easily distracted. When she follows a butterfly into the forest, she winds up lost. But she uses what Grandpa taught her, and each calming move and deep breath helps her think clearly and find her way back to the other bunnies. Newly empowered by her skills, Yo-Yo draws on them at times when she feels too wiggly to relax. Many little readers will relate to Yo-Yo’s can’t-sit-still energy, and the included poses are simple and approachable for all ages. The final pages invite readers to try yoga; images show Yo-Yo in each pose with a basic description. The story demonstrates the universal benefits of slowing down and quieting the mind; a teacher or caregiver could easily use the book as a lead-in to an age-appropriate yoga practice. The illustrations are sweet and inviting, and Yo-Yo is an exuberant and adorable protagonist. Details such as candles and books in the cozy, snuggly bunny warren are endearing.
A soothing tale for even the wiggliest of little ones. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9798887770567
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Review Posted Online: Nov. 18, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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