An enjoyable, big-hearted story of found-family sibling rivalry.
In this illustrated children’s book, a rescue dog sees his perfect new life disturbed when a second pooch is adopted into the family.
Tucker, who looks like an orange-brown cross between a Shar Pei and a Labrador, lives in a foster home for dogs. Though not small, he is dwarfed by his fellow canines. He is always last in line for food, ever denied the after-dinner bone treats. Tucker’s life changes for the better when he is adopted. Suddenly, he is the center of attention. But then his new owners adopt a second dog, the tiny Chihuahua Zoey. What follows is a mishap-laden back-and-forth battle as Tucker tries to protect a bone—the symbol of his happy, new circumstances—from the big-eared, bean-thin interloper. Though Tucker wins, he changes his mind about Zoey when told her history: As the runt of a large litter, she “had no one who cared.” Tucker decides to share and to become Zoey’s protective foster brother: “Gazing up at his people, Tucker saw their proud smiles. / Now the bone war seemed silly and hardly worthwhile. / Zoey was not an intruder but a sibling instead, / Who quickly decided. . .to steal Tucker’s bed!” The conclusion leads neatly into the second Tucker and Zoey volume, The Bed War (2019). Bensing tells a sweet, affecting, and entertaining tale (reminiscent of Al Perkins’ classic beginner book, The Digging-est Dog, 1967). Unfortunately, the unwieldy verse that favors end rhymes at the expense of rhythmic meter and the occasional text-heavy pages do detract a little from the zesty goings-on. Feather’s full-color illustrations skillfully bestow Tucker and Zoey with cartoonish, larger-than-life personalities. But much of the action takes place against blank or minimally sketched, papyrus-textured backdrops. For all the fun and frolicking, younger readers may wish for a splash more color and detail.
An enjoyable, big-hearted story of found-family sibling rivalry.Pub Date: Feb. 5, 2019
ISBN: 9781733079105
Page Count: 32
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: March 13, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A tale of mutual adoration that hits a sweet note.
Little Honey Bunny Funnybunny loves baseball almost as much as she loves her big brother P.J.—though it’s a close-run thing.
Readers familiar with the pranks P.J. plays on his younger sibling in older episodes of the series (most illustrated by Roger Bollen) will be amused—and perhaps a little confused—to see him in the role of perfect big brother after meeting his swaddled little sister for the first time in mama’s lap. But here, along with being a constant companion and “always happy to see her,” he cements his heroic status in her eyes by hitting a home run for his baseball team and then patiently teaching her how to play T-ball. After carefully coaching her and leading her through warm-up exercises, he even sits in the stands, loudly cheering her on as she scores the winning run in her own very first game. “‘You are the best brother a bunny could ever have!’” she burbles. This tale’s a tad blander compared with others centered on P.J. and his sister, but it’s undeniably cheery, with text well structured for burgeoning readers. The all-smiles animal cast in Bowers’ cartoon art features a large and diversely hued family of bunnies sporting immense floppy ears as well as a multispecies crowd of furry onlookers equally varied of color, with one spectator in a wheelchair.
A tale of mutual adoration that hits a sweet note. (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: Jan. 6, 2026
ISBN: 9798217032464
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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