A heartwarming lesson in empathy and kindness.
When a sad and tired-looking stranger arrives hauling a big suitcase, the animals that greet him are curious. What will they make of him and the contents of his suitcase?
Right from the start readers know the creature doesn’t belong in the same surroundings as the three familiar-looking earthy-toned animals that greet him: a fox, a bunny, and a bird. The stranger has an unidentifiable shape, and his skin is a pretty shade of teal. He tells them the suitcase contains a teacup, a wooden chair and table, “and there’s a little kitchen in a wooden cabin where I make my tea. That’s my home.” Naturally, the animals don’t believe that’s possible. When the tired stranger curls up to rest, they look inside the suitcase. What they find is indeed what the stranger claimed—but not quite. In a two-page spread that will break readers’ hearts the contents are revealed: a broken teacup and an old photo of the stranger’s home, exactly as he’s described it. The suitcase makes a poignant metaphor for the stranger’s memories of a home left behind. The tension builds as the animals make sense of their discovery and the stranger dreams of the hardship and loss he has endured before finally waking up, all depicted in beautiful, gestural lines and delicate application of color. In a show of empathy and understanding, the animals glue his teacup back together and re-create his old home. The stranger, no longer a stranger, has found friends and a new home.
A heartwarming lesson in empathy and kindness. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-358-32960-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: June 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020
PERSPECTIVES
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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