The perfect story for goal-oriented readers (as well as those who need the occasional nudge).
Seemingly impossible tasks can be completed—with a bit of motivation.
The titular Impossible Thing—a dizzying labyrinth of thorns, boulders, rapids, and heights—stands near the edge of the forest and is so named by the woodland creatures because everyone assumes that traversing it is out of the question. This can’t-do attitude prevails until Hugo, a French bulldog, appears and asks the question: “How do we know the Impossible Thing is impossible if no one’s ever tried to get through it?” In his quest for answers, Hugo seeks out the experts: Mr. Bear is strong, Little Fox is clever, Miss Otter is an excellent swimmer, and Old Mr. Goat is a mountain climber. Although their answers express pessimism, Hugo’s determination inspires them to try, and together the animals work to beat the Impossible. The story’s flow is smooth and begs to be read aloud; children and caregivers will enjoy Hugo’s can-do attitude and his unjudgmental reception of the initial skepticism shown by the forest crowd. The lush, soft-edged illustrations will display equally well in a lap or at the front of a room. Hanson dials the cuteness level down a bit from her illustrations in Close Your Eyes (2021) and other collaborations with Lori Haskins Houran, but the animals’ expressive features, especially cheerful Hugo’s, are winning. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)
The perfect story for goal-oriented readers (as well as those who need the occasional nudge). (Picture book. 6-10)Pub Date: March 30, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-20463-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 24, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2021
Disconcerting and possibly deadly dealings are afoot; certain to charm younger fans of the macabre.
In the latest installment of the delightfully disturbing chapter-book series, the mundane once more takes on supernatural qualities, this time in the form of veggies.
With this follow-up to Troubling Tonsils! (2025), our host, Jasper Rabbit, once more channels Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling. As Jasper narrates, we meet our heroes: fourth graders Thaddeus Badger and Oliver Possum, who love nothing more than eating junk food, particularly the hamburgers at Hurt-A-Burger (a mildly brilliant corporate name on the author’s part). When Oliver’s parents trick the two into a dinner of salads at their favorite fast-food joint, Thaddeus feels betrayed, but Oliver experiences something a little more dire. Soon after, Oliver starts acting strangely, and his parents begin behaving even more oddly. What’s going on? And does it have anything to do with the full moon? Tone is the true star of the show in this series; the mystery unspools thanks to the buildup of unnerving moments. Reynolds combines suspense with a keen ability to artistically frame both sunny innocent sequences and those rich with dark foreboding. Notably, this is no morality tale about eating your vegetables—this tale is fully on the side of its child readers. Brown’s black-and-white images, punctuated with eerie pops of green, heighten both horrifying and comedic moments.
Disconcerting and possibly deadly dealings are afoot; certain to charm younger fans of the macabre. (Chapter book. 6-9)Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
ISBN: 9781665961110
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2025
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists.
How to raise money for a coveted poster: put your friends to work!
John, founder of the FUBU fashion line and a Shark Tank venture capitalist, offers a self-referential blueprint for financial success. Having only half of the $10 he needs for a Minka J poster, Daymond forks over $1 to buy a plain T-shirt, paints a picture of the pop star on it, sells it for $5, and uses all of his cash to buy nine more shirts. Then he recruits three friends to decorate them with his design and help sell them for an unspecified amount (from a conveniently free and empty street-fair booth) until they’re gone. The enterprising entrepreneur reimburses himself for the shirts and splits the remaining proceeds, which leaves him with enough for that poster as well as a “brand-new business book,” while his friends express other fiscal strategies: saving their share, spending it all on new art supplies, or donating part and buying a (math) book with the rest. (In a closing summation, the author also suggests investing in stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrency.) Though Miles cranks up the visual energy in her sparsely detailed illustrations by incorporating bright colors and lots of greenbacks, the actual advice feels a bit vague. Daymond is Black; most of the cast are people of color. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists. (Picture book. 7-9)Pub Date: March 21, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-56727-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
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