A sweet tale of sisterly differences and love.
Sisters who are opposites may help readers find ways to feel comfortable out of their comfort zones…if they have the support of their siblings.
While most children will not feel the same way Beatrice does about the dark, spiders, quiet, and picnics in graveyards, they will understand her love for those things and her confusion when faced with their opposites—sunny days and loud things and talking, all things her younger sister, Roo, loves. Tucholke presents each sister’s preferences in a way that will have readers empathizing with both and wondering how they will ever get along. But in the end, a sisterly hand in the dark of night, a potion to help Roo appreciate the dark, and a song to help Beatrice learn to enjoy the light bring the two together. They don’t suddenly change their likes and dislikes, “but they can love each other, all the same.” Thrice repeated words in a font that increases in size weave a spell over readers and emphasize mood. For instance, Beatrice doesn’t understand “why some things are so bright bright bright and so loud loud loud.” Le’s artwork masterfully uses color to set the mood: deep background colors, black, and orange and red highlights for Beatrice’s pages; white or light blue backgrounds and bright colors filling Roo’s pages; and a blend of the two when the sisters come together. Both sisters are light-skinned with light hair. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A sweet tale of sisterly differences and love. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-64375-157-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Algonquin
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022
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
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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
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