An arboreal appreciation, told with sensitive prose and detailed illustrations.
The fall of a mighty tree is an epochal event, but not a sad one.
After flourishing for over 400 years, Old Oak is understandably tired, and one morning, she crashes to the ground, causing Owl, who lives in her trunk, to take flight. A dozen squirrels assemble and thank Old Oak for the “acorns, leaf buds, and catkins” that she had supplied. “An eclipse of moths” and many bright butterflies express their appreciation for the homes the tree provided. Rabbits, deer, bears, possum, and acorn weevils pay tribute, joined by wild turkeys and other assorted birds who create “a symphony of crowing, whistling, and lively trills.” But even after falling, Old Oak still has a crucial role to play as creatures find a home in her downed trunk (known as a nurse log); as the book closes, a new generation of seedlings spring up amid the light pouring through the breached canopy. Schimler-Safford’s colorful, stylized, mixed-media art emphasizes textures: striated owl feathers, squirrels’ brindled fur, and, especially, the rough oak bark, set against yellow, green, purple, and orange leaves and flowers. The final pages provide information on the importance of oaks, their life spans, the nurturing work of nurse logs, and how to read tree rings. An accurate presentation of forest ecology mingles with anthropomorphized forest creatures, who gather with conscious gratitude to celebrate Old Oak’s countless contributions to their lives.
An arboreal appreciation, told with sensitive prose and detailed illustrations. (Informational picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2025
ISBN: 9798888596579
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2025
A lesson that never grows old, enacted with verve by two favorite friends
Gerald the elephant learns a truth familiar to every preschooler—heck, every human: “Waiting is not easy!”
When Piggie cartwheels up to Gerald announcing that she has a surprise for him, Gerald is less than pleased to learn that the “surprise is a surprise.” Gerald pumps Piggie for information (it’s big, it’s pretty, and they can share it), but Piggie holds fast on this basic principle: Gerald will have to wait. Gerald lets out an almighty “GROAN!” Variations on this basic exchange occur throughout the day; Gerald pleads, Piggie insists they must wait; Gerald groans. As the day turns to twilight (signaled by the backgrounds that darken from mauve to gray to charcoal), Gerald gets grumpy. “WE HAVE WASTED THE WHOLE DAY!…And for WHAT!?” Piggie then gestures up to the Milky Way, which an awed Gerald acknowledges “was worth the wait.” Willems relies even more than usual on the slightest of changes in posture, layout and typography, as two waiting figures can’t help but be pretty static. At one point, Piggie assumes the lotus position, infuriating Gerald. Most amusingly, Gerald’s elephantine groans assume weighty physicality in spread-filling speech bubbles that knock Piggie to the ground. And the spectacular, photo-collaged images of the Milky Way that dwarf the two friends makes it clear that it was indeed worth the wait.
A lesson that never grows old, enacted with verve by two favorite friends . (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4231-9957-1
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An absolute pleasure.
A small dog takes a huge leap.
True to her name, sled dog puppy Leap spends her days bounding happily through blankets of freshly fallen snow, bouncily biding her time until she, too, can suit up for a run with the team. Each dog brings a different, equally essential skill to the work of mushing, and as too-young Leap greets the pack when they return from their daily hike, she worries—what if she lacks a special talent of her own when it’s her time to race? But when the much-anticipated day arrives and Leap clips in for her rookie run, her feet tippity-tap excitedly, any trace of self-doubt eclipsed by her irrepressible enthusiasm. With their new addition in tow, the other dogs take off, buoyed as ever by a confidence borne from specialized expertise; they confront obstacles head-on, sailing easily along icy Northwoods terrain. That is until the team encounters a seemingly insurmountable hurdle, one that only their greenest member can clear. Dogsled racer Braverman’s sweet narrative builds a satisfying case for individuality as a community asset, celebrating both the value of teamwork and the discrete strengths that comprise it. Savvy readers will take pride in predicting Leap’s unique contribution, while canine lovers will delight in the revelation that the pups depicted are all real-life sled dogs working in northern Wisconsin. When’s illustrations are equal parts spellbinding and precious, deftly balancing compositional simplicity with masterful color work. The result is peerless.
An absolute pleasure. (author’s note) (Picture book. 6-9)Pub Date: Oct. 21, 2025
ISBN: 9780063238053
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2025
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