It may not be, as Mole says at the end, "pure platinum," but it's not too far off. (Picture book. 4-8)
When a friend’s in need, sometimes it does come down to “Just do it,” as one little mole learns.
That’s the big-hearted, selfless message in Crimi’s tale of Mole, the budding rock star who turns into jelly at the prospect of being on stage. In his bedroom he’s all swagger, like Mick Badger, and his friend Pig has witnessed his stuff. When Pig decides to put on a talent show, Mole reluctantly agrees to play but then cancels. Pig’s disappointed, though he doesn’t chide his friend. Then Pig finds himself in the lurch when his iPod breaks, and Mole comes to the rescue, taming the collywobbles by taking himself out of the picture and just doing it, because his friend needs him to. In this best of all worlds, Mole doesn’t crash and burn but smokes ’em with his blazing guitar. Despite all the anxiety floating around, Crimi keeps her touch light; doing the right thing becomes a vehicle for overcoming the sweats. She draws Mole as such a sympathetic soul that it’s easy to identify with his case of nerves and just as easy to feel uplift in his act. By now, one almost takes the prolific Munsinger’s happy-go-lucky artwork for granted, but that would be a crime. Her illustrations show their usual bonhomie, but they are also warm as a nest, somewhere to soothe worries away.
It may not be, as Mole says at the end, "pure platinum," but it's not too far off. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3166-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2011
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts.
In this latest slice in the Food Group series, Humble Pie learns to stand up to a busy friend who’s taking advantage of his pal’s hard work on the sidelines.
Jake the Cake and Humble Pie are good friends. Where Pie is content to toil in the background, Jake happily shines in the spotlight. Alert readers will notice that Pie’s always right there, too, getting A-pluses and skiing expertly just behind—while also doing the support work that keeps every school and social project humming. “Fact: Nobody notices pie when there’s cake nearby!” When the two friends pair up for a science project, things begin well. But when the overcommitted Jake makes excuse after excuse, showing up late or not at all, a panicked Pie realizes that they won’t finish in time. When Jake finally shows up on the night before the project’s due, Pie courageously confronts him. “And for once, I wasn’t going to sugarcoat it.” The friends talk it out and collaborate through the night for the project’s successful presentation in class the next day. John and Oswald’s winning recipe—plentiful puns and delightful visual jokes—has yielded another treat here. The narration does skew didactic as it wraps up: “There’s nothing wrong with having a tough conversation, asking for help, or making sure you’re being treated fairly.” But it’s all good fun, in service of some gentle lessons about social-emotional development.
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9780063469730
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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BOOK REVIEW
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
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BOOK REVIEW
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