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I FEEL SAFE

Storms can be scary, but this story wraps you in a warm hug.

A loving Black family snuggles in close during a storm.

Loud thunder rumbles through the sky. A youngster with an Afro and arms splayed wide jumps in fright. Mother rushes in to give a comforting squeeze. The first-person narrator contentedly sighs, “And I feel safe.” As the lightning flashes, the youngster’s father acknowledges, “It’s okay to be scared sometimes.” One more reassuring hug, and the narrator repeats, “And I feel safe.” Grandma lights candles when the lights go out, and Grandpa strums the guitar. Biscuits and hot cocoa reinforce feelings of warmth and security. But where are the pets? They are hiding from the storm, and it is now the child’s turn to help others feel safe. McPhail sets the vignettes against pale lilac and teal backdrops, softening the edges of the frames with a fuzzy, airbrushed effect. The refrain is calm and grounding, while the first-person point of view conveys closeness. McPhail shifts the perspective to the reader at the end, once all is quiet and everyone is tucked in bed, asking, “What makes you feel safe?" (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Storms can be scary, but this story wraps you in a warm hug. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Aug. 9, 2022

ISBN: 978-0-8234-5072-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Holiday House

Review Posted Online: March 29, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2022

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PAPA DOESN'T DO ANYTHING!

A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren.

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In talk-show host Fallon and illustrator Ordóñez’s latest picture-book collaboration, an elderly pooch waxes rhapsodic about a life well lived.

Observing Papa sitting in his chair watching TV all day, a young pup says, “I’m starting to think…you don’t do ANYTHING.” So Papa proceeds to list his accomplishments, both big and small, mundane and profound. Some are just a result of being older and physically bigger (being tall enough to reach a high shelf and strong enough to open jars); others include winning a race and performing in a band when he was younger. Eventually, the pup realizes that while Papa may have slowed down in his old age, he’s led a full life. The most satisfying thing about Papa’s life now? Watching his grandchild take center stage: “I can say lots of thoughts / but I choose to be quiet. / I’d rather you discover things and then try it.” Fallon’s straightforward text is sweetly upbeat, though it occasionally lacks flow, forcing incongruous situations together to fit the rhyme scheme (“I cook and I mow, / and I once flew a plane. // I play newspaper puzzles because it’s good for my brain”). Featuring uncluttered, colorful backgrounds, Ordóñez’s child-friendly digital art at times takes on sepia tones, evoking the sense of looking back at old photos or memories. Though the creators tread familiar ground, the love between Papa and his little one is palpable.

A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: May 13, 2025

ISBN: 9781250393975

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025

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IT'S NOT EASY BEING A GHOST

From the It's Not Easy Being series

Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.

A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.

Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.

Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024

ISBN: 9780593702901

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024

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