An endearing, lowkey outing, though too understated for any but the most ardent series fans.
Earnest Mousse opens his seaside home to his niece.
True to form, our long-snouted, blue-and-white striped protagonist prepares assiduously for his niece’s visit by stocking up on food, cleaning (and recleaning), and even readying art supplies. Everything’s in order, but anxious Mousse is nevertheless rattled when the doorbell rings (“Already?!”). His vivacious sister chatters incessantly as she drops off Pistachio (a tiny version of Mousse but with yellow stripes rather than blue). Food and activities await, but Pistachio’s obsession with swimming undermines most of her uncle’s careful preparations. A compromise at bedtime sets the stage for an amiable, give-and-take relationship, which evolves almost effortlessly in the ensuing pages. This modeling of respectful behavior is affirmed by Mousse’s bond with his best friend, Barnacle the walrus, who arrives with his large family to take part in a yard sale initially proposed by Pistachio. While the first installments in this chapter-book series easily stand alone, this one likely won’t hold the attention of readers unfamiliar with Mousse; it retains the whimsical watercolors, world-building that relies on homey details, and a lyrical, sophisticated translation from French, but it contains virtually no drama. While the adult creatures experience a moment of panic toward the end, the overall languid, gently humorous tone belies expectation of anything but a sweet conclusion.
An endearing, lowkey outing, though too understated for any but the most ardent series fans. (Chapter book. 6-10)Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
ISBN: 9798893380293
Page Count: 37
Publisher: Transit Children's Editions
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2025
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists.
How to raise money for a coveted poster: put your friends to work!
John, founder of the FUBU fashion line and a Shark Tank venture capitalist, offers a self-referential blueprint for financial success. Having only half of the $10 he needs for a Minka J poster, Daymond forks over $1 to buy a plain T-shirt, paints a picture of the pop star on it, sells it for $5, and uses all of his cash to buy nine more shirts. Then he recruits three friends to decorate them with his design and help sell them for an unspecified amount (from a conveniently free and empty street-fair booth) until they’re gone. The enterprising entrepreneur reimburses himself for the shirts and splits the remaining proceeds, which leaves him with enough for that poster as well as a “brand-new business book,” while his friends express other fiscal strategies: saving their share, spending it all on new art supplies, or donating part and buying a (math) book with the rest. (In a closing summation, the author also suggests investing in stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrency.) Though Miles cranks up the visual energy in her sparsely detailed illustrations by incorporating bright colors and lots of greenbacks, the actual advice feels a bit vague. Daymond is Black; most of the cast are people of color. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists. (Picture book. 7-9)Pub Date: March 21, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-56727-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
Charming.
An assortment of unusual characters form friendships and help each other become their best selves.
Mr. and Mrs. Tupper, who live at Number 3 Ramshorn Drive, are antiquarians. Their daughter, Jillian, loves and cares for a plant named Ivy, who has “three speckles on each leaf and three letters in her name.” Toasty, the grumpy goldfish, lives in an octagonal tank and wishes he were Jillian’s favorite; when Arthur the spider arrives inside an antique desk, he brings wisdom and insight. Ollie the violet plant, Louise the bee, and Sunny the canary each arrive with their own quirks and problems to solve. Each character has a distinct personality and perspective; sometimes they clash, but more often they learn to empathize, see each other’s points of view, and work to help one another. They also help the Tupper family with bills and a burglar. The Fan brothers’ soft-edged, old-fashioned, black-and-white illustrations depict Toasty and Arthur with tiny hats; Ivy and Ollie have facial expressions on their plant pots. The Tuppers have paper-white skin and dark hair. The story comes together like a recipe: Simple ingredients combine, transform, and rise into something wonderful. In its matter-of-fact wisdom, rich vocabulary (often defined within the text), hint of magic, and empathetic nonhuman characters who solve problems in creative ways, this delightful work is reminiscent of Ferris by Kate DiCamillo, Our Friend Hedgehog by Lauren Castillo, and Ivy Lost and Found by Cynthia Lord and Stephanie Graegin.
Charming. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: May 27, 2025
ISBN: 9781665942485
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
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