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IF I LIVED IN THE SKY

Name: IF I LIVED IN THE SKY
Author: Abigail Rajunov
ISBN: 9781646146321

by Abigail Rajunov ; illustrated by Abigail Rajunov ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2026

Inspiring fare for young dreamers.

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Variety is the spice of life.

Deep in the forest lies a vibrant community of land-dwelling animals. Among them is a rather perturbed blue bear (“a guy”) who hates life on land. It’s “dirty and smelly and loud.” After finding a white feather, the bear dreams of a life high up in the sky with “the wind in my face and the forest down below.” While caught up in epic daydreams (featured in a series of lively spreads of the bruin and an assortment of feathered friends flying free against open skies in a soothing palette of purples, blues, and reds), the bear has an emotional chance encounter with the owner of the white feather. Acknowledging the sad reality that flight may not be possible, the bear returns home, sees the other creatures making merry, and joins them—and realizes that perhaps life on the ground isn’t so bad after all. This wistful story invites young people to ponder the possibility of considering life from a different perspective. Debut author/illustrator Rajunov’s emotional first-person text, combined with delicate, energetic, yet never overly busy acrylic, gouache, pastel, and colored pencil illustrations, captures the bear’s feelings, which run the gamut from anger to pensiveness, disappointment, and exuberance, making this a natural selection for a read-aloud centered on social-emotional learning.

Inspiring fare for young dreamers. (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: June 2, 2026

ISBN: 9781646146321

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Levine Querido

Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
PING-PONG SHABBAT
by Ann D. Koffsky ; illustrated by Abigail Rajunov

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IT'S MY BIRD-DAY!

From the Pigeon series

by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2026

Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

- BOOK REVIEW
THE MONSTER AND PUPPET SHOW!
by Mo Willems & Kate Micucci ; illustrated by Mo Willems & Kate Micucci

- BOOK REVIEW
THE PIGEON WON'T COUNT TO 10!
by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems

- BOOK REVIEW
WILL THE PIGEON GRADUATE?
by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems

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HEDGEHOGS DON'T WEAR UNDERWEAR

by Marissa Valdez ; illustrated by Marissa Valdez ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2025

Sure to have little ones giggling.

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Jacques is a hedgehog with a big secret: “I wear real, bona fide underwear.”

Our narrator received a mysterious package one day; an illustration shows a pair of underwear tied to a balloon with a note “from the Universe” floating down into Jacques’ burrow. Hedgehogs don’t wear underwear, however. Will Jacques be shunned? Jacques worries but comes to a decision: “I have to wear them. When I do I feel special.” Determined, Jacques, who’s been invited to a party, makes a dramatic entrance, with undies in hand. Jacques’ declaration (“I WEAR UNDERWEAR”) is met with remarks of dismay, before another hedgehog opens up about similar fears and shows off a pair of cowboy boots. More hedgehogs introduce themselves with their own confessions. The story ends with Jacques unveiling a painting of the underwear in a gallery filled with hedgehogs wearing all sorts of attire. Though the book is simple in plot, characters, and setting, it wins in its balance of bathroom humor, dramatic storytelling, and celebrations of individual expression. French words are peppered throughout, adding to the fun without detracting from the story for those unfamiliar with the language. The cartoonish illustrations brim with fun; Valdez relies heavily on geometric shapes (triangle noses for the hedgehogs; huge circles for their eyes). Details such as speech bubbles and recurring turtle and snake characters contribute to the outlandish humor.

Sure to have little ones giggling. (Picture book. 3-5)