Strong art, muddled writing.
A child experiences the joy of imagination and the darkness of doubt.
A nameless character with pigtails and bangs, freckles, skin the color of the page, and a tunic top over leggings slips through a broken chain-link fence and makes a wish on a dandelion. The world bursts from black and white into color as the child flies through a dreamscape, but darkness and monsters menace, hues darken and fade to dark gray (“Doubt lingers”), and the protagonist returns to Earth, alone. But a bright little yellow star spreads its glow, colors and a sense of wonder return, and the child sails through a seascape, through the sky, and into outer space. Appert’s art, which looks like watercolor but was digitally created, carries the story entirely; this could easily have been a wordless book, like JonArno Lawrence’s Sidewalk Flowers (2015), illustrated by Sydney Smith, and maybe it should have been. The text is vague and metaphorical, addressing topics such as wishes and worries, dreams and doubts, possibilities and promises—possibly too abstract for younger children to understand, although the art provides a wonderful opportunity for conversations around social-emotional learning topics such as worry, uncertainty, and hope. Appert’s use of color effectively shifts the tone and mood throughout, and young readers may want to share their own stories of wishing on dandelions and stars.
Strong art, muddled writing. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9780063036130
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.
Not even the arrival of autumn can cool down this impetuous squirrel.
Although Squirrel is skeptical about Bird’s vegetable patch (“Nothing is HAPPENING!”), Bird does produce five (count them) lovely pumpkins. Squirrel picks out a favorite: “The enormous orange one.” Bird hints that Squirrel might want to help out; Squirrel sets out to fetch some work gloves and returns to find only four pumpkins. The frequently distracted Squirrel notices more gourds disappearing and leaps to the conclusion that a thief is near. And where’s Bird?! Has Squirrel’s pal also been taken? Diligently detecting, Squirrel finds clues—peck marks, footprints, and more—and produces a sketch of the suspect. As readers will guess, each clue turns out to point to one of Squirrel and Bird’s friends. Turns out Bird was delivering pumpkins to their pals while saving the big one to give to “my very best friend,” Squirrel. But why does Squirrel haul it up a tree? “So the Pumpkin Thief can’t find it, of course!” A page of pumpkin facts provides the learning component common to all titles in this series. Once more, readers will enjoy the pleasure of prediction and repetition, Squirrel’s silly persistence, Bird’s generosity, and the vibrant color illustrations, balancing orange with green.
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781464268076
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2026
Empowerment to children to be the change they wish to see in the world.
Be a “somebody” who makes a difference!
A Black child witnesses various transgressions over the course of a day. Noticing trash on the walk to the bus stop, the young narrator thinks, “Somebody should do something about that.” Two students push their way ahead of everyone else in order to get good seats on the school bus, prompting the child to muse, “Somebody should speak up about that.” Throughout the day, the child notices examples of bullying and unfairness. These seemingly minor infractions start mounting. Finally, when the protagonist’s teacher tells the students that it’s snack time, the narrator notices that some students don’t have anything to eat. Instead of wishing for a “somebody,” the perceptive pupil realizes, “I am Somebody” and shares food with the others. The epiphany doesn’t stop there. When the narrator arrives home and notices there are toys everywhere but Mom is on a work call, the child responds to Mom’s request for help by cleaning up the mess. Accompanied by simple yet expressive illustrations, this is a loving and much-needed story that encourages kids to make a difference; pair it with Joshunda Sanders’ I Can Write the World (2019), illustrated by Charly Palmer. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Empowerment to children to be the change they wish to see in the world. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 27, 2023
ISBN: 9780762480517
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2023
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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