Feel-good, two-wheeled fun.
With helmets buckled and wheels whirring, this rhyming picture book speeds into the joy of a shared bike ride.
A diverse group of kids and their grown-ups gear up to ride bikes throughout the town. Classic two-wheelers, adaptive bikes, bikes with toddler seats and cargo trailers, tricycles, and balance bikes make up the fleet. The group rides along green-painted, protected bike lanes, through parks, from the zoo to the dentist, and in every sort of weather imaginable. Ink and digital illustrations with brightly saturated colors and clean linework give the scenes a sense of movement as the bikes zip by. Slightly stylized figures and dramatic shifts in visual perspective create energy, matching the celebratory tone of the text. The playful, alternating rhyme scheme has a strong rhythmic punch that is primed for a read-aloud, though occasional breaks in the meter interrupt the flow. The text’s point of view shifts from one rider to the next, which is at times confusing but serves to give everyone a voice and underscore the community-centered mindset. The characters are depicted with a range of skin tones and body types. One rider is pictured with a prosthetic leg, and, in one nice moment, a male-presenting child proudly rides a pink bike with streamers, gently challenging gender stereotypes.
Feel-good, two-wheeled fun. (Picture book. 2-4)Pub Date: June 16, 2026
ISBN: 9798217142798
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Rise x Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2026
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
Especially for fans of big trucks and machinery.
When hard work needs to get done, who’re you gonna call?
Young construction-vehicle mavens will enjoy this fun romp that takes them through a cheery bright-orange excavator’s typical workday: crushing garbage and loading it into a dump truck; helping with the installation of a new water pipe after the old one broke and spewed water through a city street; and digging a deep, wide hole in which to plant the mayor’s new tree. Through all these tough, painstaking tasks, the excavator “wears” an ever present smiling face, headlights standing in for large, bright eyes. Jaunty verses that mostly read and scan well narrate the brisk proceedings, and listeners are likely to want to chime in whenever the excavator’s assistance is called for in refrains such as “We need you, Orange Excavator!”—set in orange type, of course. The unfamiliar word excavator in itself should excite little ones because of its length, juicy mouth feel, and aural appeal. Kids will also appreciate the lively, though generic, illustrations; enhancing visual interest are several words throughout set in larger, colored capitals. The excavator’s driver is brown-skinned; other workers and passersby are diverse in skin tone and age. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Especially for fans of big trucks and machinery. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Aug. 23, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-20240-1
Page Count: 28
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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