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
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for...
A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility.
Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. When Gavin’s desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. “After all, it isn’t his fault that Danielle’s snow globe got broken. Sure, he shouldn’t have been in her room—but then, she shouldn’t be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. Anybody would be tempted. Anybody!” opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle’s yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English (Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener.
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Dec. 17, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-547-97044-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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