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JEFF THE GOLDFISH

Name: JEFF THE GOLDFISH
Author: David Baer
ISBN: 978-0-578-28051-6

by David Baer ; illustrated by Luis Peres ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A

An intriguing but flawed reflection on animal suffering.

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A goldfish languishes in his fishbowl until a companion arrives in Baer’s picture book.

Jeff the Goldfish vividly remembers the day when a net swooped down and separated him from his family and friends in an outdoor pond, and he has flashbacks whenever Mrs. Jones changes the water in his bowl. Jeff’s current life is bleak: He’s lonely, has little to do, and the Jones children often tap on his bowl, which infuriates him. Feline Pebbles routinely tries to eat him, and dog Ralph once knocked his bowl to the floor. Jeff’s vulnerability and inability to act on anger may feel familiar to children. However, it’s not entirely clear if Baer intends Jeff’s misfortune to provoke empathy, as Peres’ full-color cartoon illustrations are mostly comedic. Still, the text contains some gravitas, which will prompt children to discuss the ethical pitfalls of keeping animals as pets. Despite Jeff’s grim situation, when a fish named Cindy, sporting lipstick and thick eyelashes, is added to the bowl, Jeff takes abundant joy in her appearance (“I think, ‘Hubba Hubba!’ ”). However, Cindy doesn’t speak, smiles blandly, and doesn’t seem troubled by the existential problems Jeff faces. This undermines a potentially poignant conclusion about the value of companionship in difficult times.

An intriguing but flawed reflection on animal suffering.

Pub Date: N/A

ISBN: 978-0-578-28051-6

Page Count: 30

Publisher: Self

Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022

Review Program: Kirkus Indie

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL SCIENCES

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MEI MEI THE BUNNY

by Laufey ; illustrated by Lauren O'Hara ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 21, 2026

A reassuring riff on embracing imperfections.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS | CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

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IT'S MY BIRD-DAY!

From the Pigeon series

by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2026

Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending.

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Don’t let the Pigeon ruin his own special day!

Anyone who has ever encountered the title character in any of his books—whether his first, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (2003), or one of its many sequels—will understand that the bird’s innate self-love drives his every interaction. Little wonder, then, that he’s thrilled about his own “bird-day.” He has the hat. He has his “FANCY PLUMAGE.” And, best of all, he will get to blow out a candle “on my bird-day hot dog!” As he revels in the knowledge that this day is all for him, comeuppance is lurking. Someone has already blown out the bird-day candle—and eaten half the hot dog. It turns out that the Pigeon’s frenemy, the Duckling, has the same bird-day—as do a slew of newly hatched chicks. The Pigeon’s obligatory eight-panel freakout ensues. “What am I—invisible? I just want to be seen,” he whimpers, and when he receives some much-needed reassurance, he settles down and willingly shares his special day. While the switch from unapologetic narcissism to mature acceptance happens in the record-breaking span of two pages, the book is as enchanting as the Pigeon’s earlier outings. Even as it walks in the footsteps of its predecessors, there’s no denying the fun to be had.

Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending. (Picture book. 3-6)