A heartwarming story with a timeless message.
Kind, cuddly, community-minded critters keep a garden growing during the gardener’s prolonged illness.
Mabel and Stan, a rosy-cheeked older couple, live in an “ordinary house,” but their garden, filled with curving paths, abundant plants, a greenhouse, and an apiary, is marvelous. It also contains creatures who fill Mabel’s days with cheer. She’s created a welcoming environment for all, even the mouse family that’s just moved into the shed. When Mabel is taken away in an ambulance, all the anthropomorphized creatures are concerned. As the days drag on and Mabel doesn’t return, not only does the garden fall into disrepair, but the mice recognize that Stan is suffering, too, seemingly lost without his beloved counterpart. The animals who were cared for so tenderly by Mabel return the favor by looking after the garden (and Stan) until she returns. With its focus on community care, neighborly love, and outreach to older adults, the story is both uplifting and important—forging bonds with our elders in their sunset years brings connection and combats loneliness for everyone involved. Though adult readers may find the narrative a tad saccharine, the child-friendly message is entirely appropriate for its intended audience. Bright, lively watercolor illustrations fill the pages with cheer. Mixes of full-page spreads and spotlighted illustrations surrounded by white space add dimension and variety to the layout. Human characters have pale skin.
A heartwarming story with a timeless message. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Dec. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9781917366892
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Magic Cat
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2025
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
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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