Miss Spider and Nova fans will find themselves disappointed.
This kitty has some rules if you want a hug…a lot of rules.
“There shall be no head hugs, no leg hugs, and no tail hugs. / Cheek hugs are frowned upon.” The fluffy white cat with big, green eyes doesn’t like hugs from stinky persons (the illustration reveals a skunk) or “if you are on the potty” or “if I am on the potty!” Hugs from those with full diapers are verboten, as well as from those with no diaper. No hugs from scaly persons, bears, or overzealous boa constrictors. But with all these rules…when the kitty needs a hug, no one can give one. So this persnickety cat makes some revisions to the rules. Basically, the cat will now accept hugs from nearly everyone previously ruled out. Nostrils pinched shut will take care of “stinky hugs,” and “pinchy hugs” will be OK so long as they are gentle. Suddenly everyone wants to offer a hug. And so forth. Bestselling author/illustrator Kirk’s first from his boutique publishing house is not auspicious. The protagonist’s expression is almost terrifyingly uber-cute, with exaggeratedly wide eyes and a blood-red smile, and its imperiousness makes it rather unlikable. While its guidelines that “hugs are to be given gently [and] respectfully” are welcome, the long catalog of unacceptable hugs and then newly permissible ones feels repetitious rather than enjoyably silly.
Miss Spider and Nova fans will find themselves disappointed. (Picture book. 2-8)Pub Date: April 9, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-7326861-0-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Pipweasel
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2019
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
Fun times, fond friends, and a festive farmyard setting—little ones will be charmed.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Toad and Little Blue Truck get ready for a hayride.
After the titular vehicle is loaded with hay, Toad is nowhere to be found. “Beep! Beep! Beep! Where are you, Toad?” asks Little Blue Truck. All the barnyard animals look for him. Sheep searches the meadow. Goose and Duck check the pond. Others pitch in, too, but Toad seems to have disappeared…until Hen hears snoring coming from the pile of hay in the back of Little Blue Truck. Although the text’s scansion is imperfect in places (adults may want to pre-read to ensure a smooth read-aloud), the bouncy meter and rhyming text nevertheless capture the energy of the search and the farmyard community’s concern for Toad’s safety, making this a solid storytime choice. Eye-catching illustrations with rich, fully saturated colors balance the right level of detail while still highlighting the animal that is the focus of each verse. By introducing one farm animal at a time, Schertle also helps the youngest readers begin to identify barnyard animals by name and understand their unique farm homes. Traditional animal sounds are part of the text, and listeners will add them to their vocabulary. It all ends with the promised hayride, bringing the tale to a joyous ending.
Fun times, fond friends, and a festive farmyard setting—little ones will be charmed. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2026
ISBN: 9780063436121
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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