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BEARSUIT TURTLE MAKES A FRIEND

Name: BEARSUIT TURTLE MAKES A FRIEND
Author: Bob Shea
ISBN: 9781419771552

From the Bearsuit Turtle series

by Bob Shea ; illustrated by Bob Shea ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 25, 2025

An amiable romp, funny to look at and fun to read.

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Two turtles form a unique bond over a shared special interest.

As the title humorously suggests, this picture book features a turtle in a bear costume. The suit is yellow and rotund, not unlike the form of a certain fabled bear with a particular taste for honey. The turtle cuts a comical figure—a little green ovoid face inhabiting the suit’s mouth, right about where a tongue should be. The suit’s hollow black interior frames a dramatic range of facial emotions. Bearsuit Turtle soon encounters a regular turtle who’s unconvinced that our hero is in fact a bear. So Bearsuit Turtle attempts to prove it as the other turtle lists skills that all bears have: climbing trees (the protagonist clambers up before quickly crashing to the ground), hibernating (a feat our hero manages for approximately two seconds), and foraging for food (in this case, ice cream—every bear’s favorite!). The turtles’ back-and-forth approaches increasingly absurd heights until our hero finally drops the charade—and the bear outfit. Shea employs his signature style, with characters rendered from simple shapes and a few rough-hewn lines communicating facial expressions perfectly. The pals amble through a brightly colored woodland speckled with pointy trees, blobby clouds, and the occasional tweety bird. The text is ideal for reading aloud and laughing along with, while the visual gag builds into a sweet relationship.

An amiable romp, funny to look at and fun to read. (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: March 25, 2025

ISBN: 9781419771552

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Abrams

Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
POLECAT HAS A SUPERPOWER
by Jill Esbaum ; illustrated by Bob Shea

- BOOK REVIEW
PIZZA FOR BIRDS
by Bob Shea ; illustrated by Bob Shea

- BOOK REVIEW
PARROTFISH HAS A SUPERPOWER
by Jill Esbaum ; illustrated by Bob Shea

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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.

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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)

Pub Date: March 31, 2026

ISBN: 9781454999621

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Union Square Kids

Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

- BOOK REVIEW
THE MONSTER AND PUPPET SHOW!
by Mo Willems & Kate Micucci ; illustrated by Mo Willems & Kate Micucci

- BOOK REVIEW
THE PIGEON WON'T COUNT TO 10!
by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems

- BOOK REVIEW
WILL THE PIGEON GRADUATE?
by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems

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HEDGEHOGS DON'T WEAR UNDERWEAR

by Marissa Valdez ; illustrated by Marissa Valdez ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2025

Sure to have little ones giggling.

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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)