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NO MORE CHAIRS

Name: NO MORE CHAIRS
Author: Dan Gill
ISBN: 9780316552691

by Dan Gill ; illustrated by Susan Gal ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 2025

An affecting and moving conversation starter on what it means to be an ally—and a friend.

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On the first day of school, Mr. Gill’s students ask about the empty chair in his classroom.

In response, Mr. Gill, a white man, tells a story from his childhood in New York City. Mr. Gill (referred to here as Daniel) and his friend Archie, who is Black, are excited to attend their friend Steve’s birthday party. Dressed in suits and ties, they arrive at Steve’s fancy apartment building, ride the elevator up to the seventh floor, and ring the doorbell. Steve’s mother invites Daniel in but tells Archie that he must leave; there are no more chairs. When it becomes clear that Archie isn’t welcome because of his race, Daniel refuses to enter: “We’re going back to my house, where there are always enough chairs.” The chair in Mr. Gill’s classroom serves as a reminder that there’s room for everyone here. The author—who shares a name with the protagonist—based his tale on an event from his own childhood. Acknowledging that there are times when it isn’t safe for those from marginalized backgrounds to speak up, this potent story reminds those with privilege that they can—indeed, must—take a stand. For powerful discussions, pair this heartfelt friendship story with narratives of brave Black characters. Gal’s scribbly mixed-media illustrations are a visual feast, using richly saturated colors to emphasize emotion.

An affecting and moving conversation starter on what it means to be an ally—and a friend. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: July 1, 2025

ISBN: 9780316552691

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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HEDGEHOGS DON'T WEAR UNDERWEAR

by Marissa Valdez ; illustrated by Marissa Valdez ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2025

Sure to have little ones giggling.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)