A smartly wrought allegory for what happens when we give our secrets power over us (and how to take that power back).
In this cautionary tale, Bothe brings to vibrant life the allure and alarm of keeping a not-so-nice secret.
Unlike the other kids at school, Ellie loves it when recess is rained out; she enjoys the opportunity to sift for treasures in the classroom sandbox. While doing so one day, she discovers a perfect little cowrie shell; in a fit of greed, she takes it. When she examines it later, an odd creature crawls out of the shell, introducing itself as her Secret. Initially, Ellie is charmed and begins lugging the Secret around like an oversize puppy wherever she goes. As the day progresses, however, the Secret increases in size, crowding Ellie out of her own life. A metaphor for hurtful secrets, the creature is simultaneously endearing and malicious, initially peering up from inside the stolen shell in a nicely nightmarish fashion. Though the Secret has some qualities in keeping with the dragons of Eastern mythology, its long wormlike body twisting and curling around Ellie, it is clearly a product of the creator’s imagination. Alas, the narrative, which proceeds at an even pace throughout, comes to an abrupt ending once Ellie confesses her crime; still, on the whole, this empathetic and cleverly imagined tale will resonate with anyone who’s been in Ellie’s situation. The protagonist presents white; her classmates are diverse.
A smartly wrought allegory for what happens when we give our secrets power over us (and how to take that power back). (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Aug. 19, 2025
ISBN: 9780063373150
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
Sure to have little ones giggling.
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)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9781250814388
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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