Heroes aren’t born, they’re made…by slipping through enchanted cat flaps. A marvelous entry in a charming series.
Herring, longboats, and inordinately pointy hats greet our hero in his latest outing.
“Adventuring always seems to be about DOING things rather than napping after eight herring sandwiches.” Alas for poor Murray the cat. Once again he’s called upon to be bold and intrepid. Ever since his useless owner, the wizard Fumblethumb, cast a spell on Murray’s cat flap, Murray’s found himself unwillingly going on adventures with his valiant (and adorable) rabbit sidekick, Bun. This time the duo are transported to the Viking era. Eggrik the Viking has disappeared, presumably taken by trolls, and according to Eggrik’s friends, it’s up to Murray to find and save him (assuming he hasn’t been eaten first). After Murray and Bun encounter the trolls in question, they realize that they’re likable creatures, more prone to sticking carrots up their noses than gobbling people. So where is Eggrik? The answer surprises everyone. Murray’s reluctance to embrace his role as hero only adds to the book’s entertainment as he attempts to resist the call…and then saves the day anyway. Brief asides and subtle details in the delightful art combine for a tale that’s both memorable and funny. Human characters are light-skinned.
Heroes aren’t born, they’re made…by slipping through enchanted cat flaps. A marvelous entry in a charming series. (Chapter book. 6-9)Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9798217030989
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
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
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look...
Winning actually isn’t everything, as jazz-happy Rooster learns when he goes up against the legendary likes of Mules Davis and Ella Finchgerald at the barnyard talent show.
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look good—particularly after his “ ‘Hen from Ipanema’ [makes] / the barnyard chickies swoon.”—but in the end the competition is just too stiff. No matter: A compliment from cool Mules and the conviction that he still has the world’s best band soon puts the strut back in his stride. Alexander’s versifying isn’t always in tune (“So, he went to see his cousin, / a pianist of great fame…”), and despite his moniker Rooster plays an electric bass in Bower’s canted country scenes. Children are unlikely to get most of the jokes liberally sprinkled through the text, of course, so the adults sharing it with them should be ready to consult the backmatter, which consists of closing notes on jazz’s instruments, history and best-known musicians.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-58536-688-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
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