A nifty presentation of the well-worn but evergreen message of human connectedness.
Rhyming advice for readers extols the values of teamwork and diversity as die-cut shapes reveal an increasing number of children.
Two brown-skinned children stand on a hill, surrounded by a kite-filled sky on which the opening stanza declares, “together, we’re a team.” One child is printed directly on verso; the other is visible through a die-cut keyhole punched through it and the nine leaves beneath. Teckentrup’s characteristic textured blocks of color make this composition feel layered, and the following spreads have even more depth and complexity; the real stunner shows a flock of birds in an autumn sky. Birds and trees are frequent motifs in this assortment of pastoral landscapes, paired with platitudes such as, “If we all sing together / one voice becomes a choir.” Populated with a growing group of children standing to face readers and revealed through subsequent die cuts, these scenes are artful rather than realistic; both polar bears and penguins frolic on the same iceberg in one winter tableau. Finally, a circle of 18 children, each framed by a cutout, gives way to a standard double-page spread of “one big, happy crowd.” Here, still heedless of the fourth wall, are dozens of children in celebratory poses with skin tones ranging from peach to deep brown—and three of them have visible disabilities, counting the one with glasses.
A nifty presentation of the well-worn but evergreen message of human connectedness. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 5, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68010-177-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2020
An instructive tale about big feelings, lightened up by a furious kid’s theatrics.
An angry child attempts to calm down.
A kid with paper-white skin, clad in a blue dress and striped tights, makes an absurd request: “Can we get a pet penguin, name it Marshmallow, and feed it carrots?” Mom, off-stage, says simply, “Not today,” and the tot transforms into a rather odd creature: a spicy nugget! The nugget is imperfectly ovoid in form, with red rosy cheeks, rage-filled dot-eyes, and a spiraling black-hole mouth. The sight gag works beautifully: When one feels truly angry, all poise disappears, leaving only a flailing ball of rage. Our protagonist hurls a teddy bear, unsuccessfully tries out a list of calming methods, and finally retreats to bed, where “I can feel my breathing; I know that I am safe.” The youngster reverts back to human form, and Mom arrives with kind words: “You are not your big feelings. You are not your angry thoughts.” The takeaway is unmistakable, especially at the story’s conclusion: It’s OK to get mad and important to practice coping strategies. The young narrator expresses emotion with fabulous vigor, though the story’s lilting rhyme scheme occasionally distracts from these outbursts with cuteness. Nonetheless, this increasingly enraged nugget-child is irresistible; anyone who’s grappled with overwhelming emotions will relate—in a word, everyone.
An instructive tale about big feelings, lightened up by a furious kid’s theatrics. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026
ISBN: 9798217042142
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026
SEEN & HEARD
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
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