Winningly sweet.
A young wombat’s collection of favorite things leads to a new friendship.
Mabel has just moved into a new house with her box of carefully selected special finds, including seashells, a rabbit-shaped button box, and marbles from her grandmother. But she doesn’t have any friends to share them with. After a visit to a museum with her dad, Mabel is inspired. She curates her exhibits with care and posts fliers around the neighborhood. Reactions from visitors are mixed. George, the armadillo down the street, is drawn to Mabel’s sea glass collection, but a young pig complains, “This isn’t a real museum!” and Grumpy Berta huffs, “I have lots of stuff, too, y’know.” Mabel’s disappointment is evident. But early the next morning, a newcomer engages with the rock display: “These are all out of order!” The young badger introduces herself as Nora, and it’s clear that she’s just the friend for Mabel. Nora is interested in Mabel’s collections, and it turns out she has a trove of her own to share. Wulfekotte offers a subtle, reassuring reminder that not everyone will appreciate our cherished items, and that’s OK—the key is finding those who see the beauty in our treasures. Her fine-lined, delicately colored illustrations depict endearing young Mabel and her array of small, colorful objects with their varied shapes and textures.
Winningly sweet. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: June 30, 2026
ISBN: 9780593698297
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
A reassuring riff on embracing imperfections.
A young rabbit frets about her upcoming violin performance in Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey’s literary debut.
Mei Mei’s dream—“to share her music with the world”—is about to come true. She’s having her very first recital, complete with an orchestra, at the H’Opera House. But the day before the concert, Mei Mei is racked with anxiety. What if she plays a bum note in front of everyone? Sure enough, the worst happens mid-performance: She hits a clinker. But by remembering her mom’s reassuring sentiments from the night before (“Feel the wind…find the notes to make it right”), Mei Mei summons the strength to soldier on, and “wrong notes become right. Dissonance becomes beautiful.” At times, it all feels more like a resilience parable than a story, and the writing can be precious (“The flutter of butterflies wakes Mei Mei from her slumber”). Still, the message is solid, bolstered by O’Hara’s pencil and watercolor illustrations, which are plush-toy soft—fitting, as even prior to this book’s publication, a stuffed Mei Mei has been for sale at Grammy winner Laufey’s website. The tale features an all-animal, all-adorable cast, and endearingly, the art betrays no hint of modern times. A standout image presents Mei Mei onstage, temporarily incapacitated by her mistake and imagining her fellow musicians and their instruments with the color-blasted menace of an expressionist painting.
A reassuring riff on embracing imperfections. (author’s note, glossary) (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: April 21, 2026
ISBN: 9798217051748
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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