A journey into the unknown yields friends both old and new in a tale that’s one part diverting and two parts charming.
An absurd situation paves the way for friendship.
Betsy, a red cat who’s unquestionably devoted to a lizardlike stuffie named Philippa, lives a rather typical life—up until the day they spot a rather large hole, right smack dab in the middle of the street. Betsy has just vowed to ignore it when suddenly the words “WAAAAAH! I can’t find you…” emanate from within, shortly followed by a banana flung from its depths. Intrigued, Betsy decides that the pair should keep an eye on the hole, but they’ll need snacks, so Betsy sets off. In the interim, Philippa disappears (presumably down the aforementioned hole). Diving in to look for her, Betsy discovers a whole world of different creatures beneath the surface, including a cheery crocodile named Nelson who’s also lost a stuffie (a kitty named Josephine), which Betsy has found along the way. Hirst relies on a distinct screen-printed style full of bold colors and even bolder characters. The inherent humor of finding a mysterious hole and then exploring its depths is a distinct enticement, but it’s the relationship between Betsy and Philippa (and then, in time, Betsy and Nelson) that gives the book its heart and soul. That Betsy is a cat with a lizard stuffie and Nelson is a reptile with a feline plush toy just adds to the fun.
A journey into the unknown yields friends both old and new in a tale that’s one part diverting and two parts charming. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
ISBN: 9781536250145
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Oct. 10, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2025
Sure to have little ones giggling.
Jacques is a hedgehog with a big secret: “I wear real, bona fide underwear.”
Our narrator received a mysterious package one day; an illustration shows a pair of underwear tied to a balloon with a note “from the Universe” floating down into Jacques’ burrow. Hedgehogs don’t wear underwear, however. Will Jacques be shunned? Jacques worries but comes to a decision: “I have to wear them. When I do I feel special.” Determined, Jacques, who’s been invited to a party, makes a dramatic entrance, with undies in hand. Jacques’ declaration (“I WEAR UNDERWEAR”) is met with remarks of dismay, before another hedgehog opens up about similar fears and shows off a pair of cowboy boots. More hedgehogs introduce themselves with their own confessions. The story ends with Jacques unveiling a painting of the underwear in a gallery filled with hedgehogs wearing all sorts of attire. Though the book is simple in plot, characters, and setting, it wins in its balance of bathroom humor, dramatic storytelling, and celebrations of individual expression. French words are peppered throughout, adding to the fun without detracting from the story for those unfamiliar with the language. The cartoonish illustrations brim with fun; Valdez relies heavily on geometric shapes (triangle noses for the hedgehogs; huge circles for their eyes). Details such as speech bubbles and recurring turtle and snake characters contribute to the outlandish humor.
Sure to have little ones giggling. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9781250814388
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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