Transitioning into a shared room can be a tricky situation, especially with jealous sibling squabbles. But Zoe’s flair will...
Zoe (Zoe Gets Ready, 2012) has proclaimed herself queen of the universe, and her realm is her bedroom—where absolutely no sisters are allowed.
Every night at bedtime, after her mom shuts the door, Queen Zoe sets out to explore her kingdom. She builds grand empires (wobbly towers of blocks), discovers uncharted lands (like the top of her bookcase) and carefully prepares morning tea for the court—her toy penguins, ranged round her on a blanket on the floor. But one day, her reign topples: Her parents tell her that she has to share her room with her little sister, Addie. They put her crib right on top of the royal table! How is she ever going to explore now? Queen Zoe pouts, with a gloomy frown and arms crossed in defiance. Every single noise wakes Addie up, and it looks like Zoe’s nighttime fun must come to an end. However, a sudden crash of thunder makes Zoe realize just how much she likes having a roommate after all. Murguia’s dark blue washes set the quiet night tone, and Zoe’s abundant curiosity shines from the top of her crown to the bottom of her stretched tippy-toes.
Transitioning into a shared room can be a tricky situation, especially with jealous sibling squabbles. But Zoe’s flair will certainly help. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-545-45781-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Levine/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: April 2, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2013
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren.
In talk-show host Fallon and illustrator Ordóñez’s latest picture-book collaboration, an elderly pooch waxes rhapsodic about a life well lived.
Observing Papa sitting in his chair watching TV all day, a young pup says, “I’m starting to think…you don’t do ANYTHING.” So Papa proceeds to list his accomplishments, both big and small, mundane and profound. Some are just a result of being older and physically bigger (being tall enough to reach a high shelf and strong enough to open jars); others include winning a race and performing in a band when he was younger. Eventually, the pup realizes that while Papa may have slowed down in his old age, he’s led a full life. The most satisfying thing about Papa’s life now? Watching his grandchild take center stage: “I can say lots of thoughts / but I choose to be quiet. / I’d rather you discover things and then try it.” Fallon’s straightforward text is sweetly upbeat, though it occasionally lacks flow, forcing incongruous situations together to fit the rhyme scheme (“I cook and I mow, / and I once flew a plane. // I play newspaper puzzles because it’s good for my brain”). Featuring uncluttered, colorful backgrounds, Ordóñez’s child-friendly digital art at times takes on sepia tones, evoking the sense of looking back at old photos or memories. Though the creators tread familiar ground, the love between Papa and his little one is palpable.
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781250393975
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
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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
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