A winning role reversal.
A bug disrupts her bog’s food chain—or does she?
A happy-go-lucky bug (egg-shaped and yellow, with orange stripes) “bobs on a log” as bubbles float—and “POP!”—from the muddy bog below. She sings and “thinks happy things.” Unicorn-bugs, rainbows, and sunshine appear in her pink thought bubble. “Trouble” is the last thing on her mind. Then a frog arrives in the bog. He gives the bug “a slick, slimy smile” and envisions cooking her up for a “yummy” meal. The bug seems unfazed. She even waves to the frog. Suddenly, a fog rolls in and obscures the two characters from view. There’s a “CHOMP!” and a “CHEW!” and a “SLURP!” and a “SWALLOW!” The fog slowly and dramatically dissipates, revealing a surprise twist: The bug is now over twice her size and “full of frog!” Rhyming, almost singsong text buoys the economical and often alliterative vocabulary of around 70 words and their variants. The line spacing—at most seven lines of text per double-page spread—helps emerging readers keep up with the fun. Fenske’s bright colors and cartoon illustrations add to the friendly tone and humorous plot. Though careful readers may guess the outcome from the bug’s nonchalant attitude, the omniscient narrator’s warnings (“if that bug were me, I’d leave that bog on the double!”) help the ending feel like a genuine surprise. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-12-inch double-page spreads viewed at 57.6% of actual size.)
A winning role reversal. (Early reader. 3-7)Pub Date: Dec. 8, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5344-7724-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Simon Spotlight
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2020
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A reassuring riff on embracing imperfections.
A young rabbit frets about her upcoming violin performance in Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey’s literary debut.
Mei Mei’s dream—“to share her music with the world”—is about to come true. She’s having her very first recital, complete with an orchestra, at the H’Opera House. But the day before the concert, Mei Mei is racked with anxiety. What if she plays a bum note in front of everyone? Sure enough, the worst happens mid-performance: She hits a clinker. But by remembering her mom’s reassuring sentiments from the night before (“Feel the wind…find the notes to make it right”), Mei Mei summons the strength to soldier on, and “wrong notes become right. Dissonance becomes beautiful.” At times, it all feels more like a resilience parable than a story, and the writing can be precious (“The flutter of butterflies wakes Mei Mei from her slumber”). Still, the message is solid, bolstered by O’Hara’s pencil and watercolor illustrations, which are plush-toy soft—fitting, as even prior to this book’s publication, a stuffed Mei Mei has been for sale at Grammy winner Laufey’s website. The tale features an all-animal, all-adorable cast, and endearingly, the art betrays no hint of modern times. A standout image presents Mei Mei onstage, temporarily incapacitated by her mistake and imagining her fellow musicians and their instruments with the color-blasted menace of an expressionist painting.
A reassuring riff on embracing imperfections. (author’s note, glossary) (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: April 21, 2026
ISBN: 9798217051748
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
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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