A charmer about finding self-confidence and one’s place in a family.
A boy determines to add luster to his family name.
After moving into a new home, Chuck Whipplethorp learns his paternal forebears experienced exciting adventures—though, in the case of his dad, whom he believes “boring,” maybe not so much. He makes a list of his ancestors’ exploits—mountain climbing and deep-sea diving, for instance—and fancifully sets out to emulate them but has little luck, considering oceans and mountains aren’t in his neighborhood. Hunting for and collecting insect specimens, activities his grandfather enjoyed, seem more doable pursuits. Chuck finds a cool beetle, but killing it and other bugs is unpalatable, so he proceeds by gathering ones already deceased. Soon, Chuck, employing lots of ingenuity—and sundry household items—fashions a nifty, multilevel beetle house, which attracts a host of other (live) insects and dad’s accolades. This delightful story highlights a warm, comforting, realistic son-father relationship. The dynamic, wonderfully effective pen-and-watercolor illustrations present the protagonists as white as paper—even their clothing—against delicately colored backgrounds and are particularly accomplished at depicting Chuck’s imaginary adventures and scenes of nature. Insect fans will especially appreciate the spread featuring various colorful insects (scientific nomenclature included) and the 90-degree page turn that provides a glimpse into the very inventive interior of Chuck’s beetle condo. Endpapers buzz with lively details.
A charmer about finding self-confidence and one’s place in a family. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 11, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-316-53825-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
Quirky, familiar fun for series devotees.
After Duncan finds his crayons gone—yet again—letters arrive, detailing their adventures in friendship.
Eleven crayons send missives from their chosen spots throughout Duncan’s home (and one from his classroom). Red enjoys the thrill of extinguishing “pretend fires” with Duncan’s toy firetruck. White, so often dismissed as invisible, finds a new calling subbing in for the missing queen on the black-and-white chessboard. “Now everyone ALWAYS SEES ME!…(Well, half the time!)” Pink’s living the dream as a pastry chef helming the Breezy Bake Oven, “baking everything from little cupcakes…to…OTHER little cupcakes!” Teal, who’s hitched a ride to school in Duncan’s backpack, meets the crayons in the boy’s desk and writes, “Guess what? I HAVE A TWIN! How come you never told me?” Duncan wants to see his crayons and “meet their new friends.” A culminating dinner party assembles the crayons and their many guests: a table tennis ball, dog biscuits, a well-loved teddy bear, and more. The premise—personified crayons, away and back again—is well-trammeled territory by now, after over a dozen books and spinoffs, and Jeffers once more delivers his signature cartooning and hand-lettering. Though the pages lack the laugh-out-loud sight gags and side-splittingly funny asides of previous outings, readers—especially fans of the crayons’ previous outings—will enjoy checking in on their pals.
Quirky, familiar fun for series devotees. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9780593622360
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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