On-the-nose humor geared for new parents and precocious kids.
An omniscient everybaby instructs other infants on the care and feeding of a new mother.
“Congratulations! It’s a…MOM!…You’ve introduced yourself, had a snuggle, and shared a meal. BUT…” A thought balloon reveals a newborn baby’s most pressing concern—“WHAT NOW?”—as the little one is cradled by Mom in a hospital bed. Fortunately, the narrator is here to walk a theoretical all-baby readership through Mom Care 101, dispensing both affirmations (“You’ve been preparing for this since you were the size of an avocado. If anyone can take good care of her, it’s you”) and practical advice (“Your new mom will require round-the-clock care, so it’s best to plan for staying up all night”). (Ah! So that’s why babies are awake at all hours.) In case it isn’t obvious by now, the book’s abundant humor is suited to adults familiar with new-parent agita (“Don’t plan on her wearing any one outfit for long. New moms are notorious for spit-ups and spills. It’s all part of the fun!”). While many kids will enjoy Gutierrez’s cartoonish digital art featuring adorable babies in a range of skin colors, some may be confused rather than amused by images of the book’s despondent moms. In one such illustration, a “fussy” (crying, overwhelmed, and defeated) mother sits on the floor as a baby in a bouncy seat yowls across the room.
On-the-nose humor geared for new parents and precocious kids. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 10, 2026
ISBN: 9781623546427
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2025
A tale of mutual adoration that hits a sweet note.
Little Honey Bunny Funnybunny loves baseball almost as much as she loves her big brother P.J.—though it’s a close-run thing.
Readers familiar with the pranks P.J. plays on his younger sibling in older episodes of the series (most illustrated by Roger Bollen) will be amused—and perhaps a little confused—to see him in the role of perfect big brother after meeting his swaddled little sister for the first time in mama’s lap. But here, along with being a constant companion and “always happy to see her,” he cements his heroic status in her eyes by hitting a home run for his baseball team and then patiently teaching her how to play T-ball. After carefully coaching her and leading her through warm-up exercises, he even sits in the stands, loudly cheering her on as she scores the winning run in her own very first game. “‘You are the best brother a bunny could ever have!’” she burbles. This tale’s a tad blander compared with others centered on P.J. and his sister, but it’s undeniably cheery, with text well structured for burgeoning readers. The all-smiles animal cast in Bowers’ cartoon art features a large and diversely hued family of bunnies sporting immense floppy ears as well as a multispecies crowd of furry onlookers equally varied of color, with one spectator in a wheelchair.
A tale of mutual adoration that hits a sweet note. (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: Jan. 6, 2026
ISBN: 9798217032464
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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