Chronic constipation and weaponized wind propel an entertaining bathroom book.
A duodenal dilemma plagues a pint-size pirate.
Joey Wyatt, aka Captain Stinkbottom, has two problems: constipation and flatulence. His belly is constantly swollen, and his crew are always laughing at his tendency to pass gas. His clueless mother offers no help. Eventually, though, farting turns out to be an asset as Stinkbottom wields it like a cannon against his adversaries, including Captain Potatoface. Contending with another captain, Elsa Pinkhair, he initially triumphs, but, unfazed, she cleverly diagnoses his digestive issues and prescribes a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. No more constipation—but, happily, no reduction in toots, either! Rhyming words are in bold at the end of lines, but with no attempt to provide any rhythm (perhaps a result of the book’s translation from Spanish), so reading the tale aloud will present a challenge. Still, though the vocabulary is quite rich (including flatulence, invincible, scallywag, and infamous), words are almost unnecessary here; the strength of the book lies in Urberuaga’s droll illustrations, with their free, expressive linework, vibrant color, abundant gas clouds, and many small comical characters, who vary in skin tone (Stinkbottom is pale-skinned). The topic, of inexhaustible fascination for this age group, and the effortlessly childlike art are bound to produce giggles.
Chronic constipation and weaponized wind propel an entertaining bathroom book. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 7, 2026
ISBN: 9791387834364
Page Count: 44
Publisher: NubeOcho
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2026
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts.
In this latest slice in the Food Group series, Humble Pie learns to stand up to a busy friend who’s taking advantage of his pal’s hard work on the sidelines.
Jake the Cake and Humble Pie are good friends. Where Pie is content to toil in the background, Jake happily shines in the spotlight. Alert readers will notice that Pie’s always right there, too, getting A-pluses and skiing expertly just behind—while also doing the support work that keeps every school and social project humming. “Fact: Nobody notices pie when there’s cake nearby!” When the two friends pair up for a science project, things begin well. But when the overcommitted Jake makes excuse after excuse, showing up late or not at all, a panicked Pie realizes that they won’t finish in time. When Jake finally shows up on the night before the project’s due, Pie courageously confronts him. “And for once, I wasn’t going to sugarcoat it.” The friends talk it out and collaborate through the night for the project’s successful presentation in class the next day. John and Oswald’s winning recipe—plentiful puns and delightful visual jokes—has yielded another treat here. The narration does skew didactic as it wraps up: “There’s nothing wrong with having a tough conversation, asking for help, or making sure you’re being treated fairly.” But it’s all good fun, in service of some gentle lessons about social-emotional development.
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9780063469730
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, if oft-told, story.
A plush toy rabbit bonds with a boy and watches him grow into adulthood.
The boy receives the blue bunny for his birthday and immediately becomes attached to it. Unbeknownst to him, the ungendered bunny is sentient; it engages in dialogue with fellow toys, giving readers insight into its thoughts. The bunny's goal is to have grand adventures when the boy grows up and no longer needs its company. The boy spends many years playing imaginatively with the bunny, holding it close during both joyous and sorrowful times and taking it along on family trips. As a young man, he marries, starts a family, and hands over the beloved toy to his toddler-aged child in a crib. The bunny's epiphany—that he does not need to wait for great adventures since all his dreams have already come true in the boy's company—is explicitly stated in the lengthy text, which is in many ways similar to The Velveteen Rabbit (1922). The illustrations, which look hand-painted but were digitally created, are moderately sentimental with an impressionistic dreaminess (one illustration even includes a bunny-shaped cloud in the sky) and a warm glow throughout. The depiction of a teenage male openly displaying his emotions—hugging his beloved childhood toy for example—is refreshing. All human characters present as White expect for one of the boy’s friends who is Black.
A sweet, if oft-told, story. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72825-448-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2022
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