Good to get for animal lovers.
A humorous take on animal conservation that provides information.
A child with a passion for sharks shouts to the whole neighborhood, “HEY, EVERYBODY, I’M GETTING A SHARK!” The emphatic text is set in a vibrant speech bubble befitting the cartoon art. The kid tells Ralphie the dog about overhearing Mom tell Dad about the shark, and the anthropomorphized pet rattles off a series of facts about sharks to convince the kid that getting a shark is a bad idea. The narrator meets Ralphie’s objections with a string of amusingly illustrated fanciful ideas (imagining opening a dogfish grooming salon for that species of shark, for example). It’s a big disappointment when Mom and Dad present “an adoption certificate for a real shark that is swimming in the ocean right now.” Their explanation that this real shark is “happy and healthy [a]nd you’re helping it stay that way” is accompanied by a book about sharks. The kid begins spouting off shark facts, which irks Ralphie to humorous effect—hadn’t Ralphie been saying exactly that? The narrator is ultimately pleased with the gift, calling out to the neighborhood, “HEY, EVERYBODY, I’M SAVING A SHARK!” While a closing page depicts Ralphie saying “there are special organizations that let you help animals in need,” frustratingly, there is no brief list nor any guidance to readers who would like to find them. The cheery cartoon art depicts the narrator and family with pale skin and brown hair; their neighborhood is diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 18.1% of actual size.)
Good to get for animal lovers. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: May 18, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-11112-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2021
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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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