bookshelf

FARM SHARK

Name: FARM SHARK
Author: Bill Canterbury
ISBN: 9780593900789

by Bill Canterbury ; illustrated by Maddie Frost ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2026

Good-natured giggles, with a bit of bite.

bookshelf

And on this farm, there was a…shark?

The barnyard animals are excited when a truck arrives pulling a trailer stamped with the words “Aquatic Ranch Delivery.” “A new friend!” says the sheep. “I bet it’s a duck,” says the pig. Even after they learn that the new arrival is actually a “farm shark,” the sheep remains enthused: “How fun! He looks so friendly.” Not really. Gradually, most of the animals are swallowed and trapped in the shark’s stomach, depicted on two-page spreads as a dark, potato-shaped space. (Helpfully, the space contains a lantern and a working flashlight—the shark’s previous meal?) Fortunately, tan-skinned, dark-haired Farmer Jolene knows how to free the animals: A bit of shark tickling gets the critters expelled in a popcornlike burst from their captor’s laughing mouth. Farmer Jolene tells the shark to stop eating the animals, and he agrees. But Farmer Jolene’s still on the menu—and must turn to readers for help. Canterbury has produced a hilarious addition to the dim-but-adorable-animals picture-book subgenre, imbuing this offering with punchy, punny dialogue and memorably daffy expressions (“Well, that just beats my biscuits”). Frost’s flat, cartoonish Photoshop art is immaculate, with roomy layouts that ensure that readers won’t miss a gag. Here’s one: There’s a sign inside the shark’s stomach that says “Welcome to Stomachville.”

Good-natured giggles, with a bit of bite. (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: June 2, 2026

ISBN: 9780593900789

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: Feb. 16, 2026

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
MY TEACHER IS A DINOSAUR!
by Bill Canterbury ; illustrated by Jeff Harter

bookshelf

MEI MEI THE BUNNY

by Laufey ; illustrated by Lauren O'Hara ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 21, 2026

A reassuring riff on embracing imperfections.

bookshelf

A young rabbit frets about her upcoming violin performance in Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey’s literary debut.

Mei Mei’s dream—“to share her music with the world”—is about to come true. She’s having her very first recital, complete with an orchestra, at the H’Opera House. But the day before the concert, Mei Mei is racked with anxiety. What if she plays a bum note in front of everyone? Sure enough, the worst happens mid-performance: She hits a clinker. But by remembering her mom’s reassuring sentiments from the night before (“Feel the wind…find the notes to make it right”), Mei Mei summons the strength to soldier on, and “wrong notes become right. Dissonance becomes beautiful.” At times, it all feels more like a resilience parable than a story, and the writing can be precious (“The flutter of butterflies wakes Mei Mei from her slumber”). Still, the message is solid, bolstered by O’Hara’s pencil and watercolor illustrations, which are plush-toy soft—fitting, as even prior to this book’s publication, a stuffed Mei Mei has been for sale at Grammy winner Laufey’s website. The tale features an all-animal, all-adorable cast, and endearingly, the art betrays no hint of modern times. A standout image presents Mei Mei onstage, temporarily incapacitated by her mistake and imagining her fellow musicians and their instruments with the color-blasted menace of an expressionist painting.

A reassuring riff on embracing imperfections. (author’s note, glossary) (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: April 21, 2026

ISBN: 9798217051748

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Penguin Workshop

Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS | CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

bookshelf

IT'S MY BIRD-DAY!

From the Pigeon series

by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2026

Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending.

bookshelf

Don’t let the Pigeon ruin his own special day!

Anyone who has ever encountered the title character in any of his books—whether his first, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (2003), or one of its many sequels—will understand that the bird’s innate self-love drives his every interaction. Little wonder, then, that he’s thrilled about his own “bird-day.” He has the hat. He has his “FANCY PLUMAGE.” And, best of all, he will get to blow out a candle “on my bird-day hot dog!” As he revels in the knowledge that this day is all for him, comeuppance is lurking. Someone has already blown out the bird-day candle—and eaten half the hot dog. It turns out that the Pigeon’s frenemy, the Duckling, has the same bird-day—as do a slew of newly hatched chicks. The Pigeon’s obligatory eight-panel freakout ensues. “What am I—invisible? I just want to be seen,” he whimpers, and when he receives some much-needed reassurance, he settles down and willingly shares his special day. While the switch from unapologetic narcissism to mature acceptance happens in the record-breaking span of two pages, the book is as enchanting as the Pigeon’s earlier outings. Even as it walks in the footsteps of its predecessors, there’s no denying the fun to be had.

Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending. (Picture book. 3-6)