An upbeat, gratifying birthday excursion despite a child’s tense preoccupation.
Dazzled by the purchase of a large, rainbow lollipop, Oliver can focus only on how it will taste rather than on the wonders at the zoo.
It’s Oliver’s birthday and a beautiful day for a zoo trip. At the entrance, a lollipop vendor intrigues, and Daddy buys Oliver “a huge round rainbow on a long white stick. The perfect birthday lollipop.” Oliver is told to wait till after dinner to eat it; now, they are to enjoy the zoo. Oliver holds it tight, mesmerized by the colors and the prospect of how it will taste. At the carousel, Oliver is too worried he might drop his treat to ride and decides to stay behind with the stroller, watching little sib Louis, Mommy, and Daddy enjoy the ride. With eyes and thoughts only for the lollipop, Oliver misses all the fun and sights: the lions, the pandas, the monkeys, the flamingos, and the glowing feathers of the peacocks. By the time they get to the giraffes, Oliver can’t wait any longer and begins to unwrap the lollipop—when the tall, long-necked animal reaches down and grabs it right out of his hand. Though Oliver’s eyes are full of tears, the walk back through the zoo becomes more meaningful when little Louis sweetly whispers, “Look.” Oliver blinks and sees the colors of the toucan’s beak and much more. Vivid, bright paintings illuminate the well-told narrative centering a child’s singular fixation, disappointment, and family warmth. Oliver and Louis are biracial, with a Black mom and White dad. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 50% of actual size.)
An upbeat, gratifying birthday excursion despite a child’s tense preoccupation. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-20300-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending.
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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