A warm and relatable tale told with heart.
A family goes home again.
It’s time to move yet again, but Esmerelda’s used to it, because her dad’s in the military. This time, they’ll be relocating from Germany back to San Antonio. That should be good news, because the rest of Esmerelda’s extended familia lives there, but she isn’t nearly as excited as her sister, who was born there. After all, Esmerelda’s never been to San Antonio; that’s not her home! After packing everything up, they move to temporary lodging on the base and say adios to the friends they’ve made in Germany. Once they land in the U.S., they’re greeted by loved ones, right off the plane. Everyone is curious about Esmerelda, but the only one she recognizes is her Abuela. Esmerelda doesn’t feel like she belongs. Until…Tío George puts on Tejano music. Hearing a song by her beloved Selena, Esmerelda starts dancing, and everyone joins in. At last, she feels at home. Esmerelda’s a charming protagonist struggling with an issue that will be familiar to many readers, whether they’ve moved frequently or not: feeling out of place with family they’re not yet close with. Spanish words are interspersed throughout, while Lechuga’s crayonlike art brims with detailed spreads and harmonic colors full of movement. Esmerelda and her family are brown-skinned and Latine.
A warm and relatable tale told with heart. (author’s note, photos) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781623543907
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators.
Existing artwork from an artistic giant inspires a fairy-tale reimagination by a master of the horror genre.
In King’s interpretation of a classic Brothers Grimm story, which accompanies set and costume designs that the late Sendak created for a 1997 production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera, siblings Hansel and Gretel survive abandonment in the woods and an evil witch’s plot to gobble them up before finding their “happily ever after” alongside their father. Prose with the reassuring cadence of an old-timey tale, paired with Sendak’s instantly recognizable artwork, will lull readers before capitalizing on these creators’ knack for injecting darkness into seemingly safe spaces. Gaping faces loom in crevices of rocks and trees, and a gloomy palette of muted greens and ocher amplify the story’s foreboding tone, while King never sugarcoats the peach-skinned children’s peril. Branches with “clutching fingers” hide “the awful enchanted house” of a “child-stealing witch,” all portrayed in an eclectic mix of spot and full-bleed images. Featuring insults that might strike some as harsh (“idiot,” “fool”), the lengthy, dense text may try young readers’ patience, and the often overwhelmingly ominous mood feels more pitched to adults—particularly those familiar with King and Sendak—but an introduction acknowledges grandparents as a likely audience, and nostalgia may prompt leniency over an occasional disconnect between words and art.
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9780062644695
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2025
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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