Fans of Duck’s previous outing will revel in this return to gentle anarchy.
In this similarly funny sequel to Duck on a Bike (2002), Shannon’s adventurous Duck returns to conquer his next riding challenge—a tractor!
Though Duck’s fellow animals have some doubts, his prior triumph subdues them. “Well, if he can ride a bike, maybe he can drive a tractor, too!” It’s a rough go at first, as, unlike a bike, a tractor requires ignition. But after a quick twiddle with the pedals and sticks, Duck turns on the big red machine, perfecting his tractor-driving skills in no time. The fun begins when he invites everyone to hop aboard. As Goat, Cow, Dog, Pig and Pig, and the rest of the gang clamber, jump, and fly to join Duck on the tractor, the resulting chaos delights and thrills with every manic facial expression and every bleat, yowl, and holler. Things take another turn for the delightful when Duck steers onto the main road and trundles by a diner full of people, including some familiar faces. The ensuing reaction shots from the diner’s patrons range from wacky to comically bewildered, utilizing a tight wide angle to frame each batch of faces. Zany humor once again radiates from both pictures and text: reading out loud is a real delight. Bright, textured colors heighten the madcap antics of each character. The finale wraps things up with a mischievous wink.
Fans of Duck’s previous outing will revel in this return to gentle anarchy. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-545-61941-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Blue Sky/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A merry choice for Christmastime.
A child and a dog make their way home, thanks to a Christmas sweater.
When Theo’s Yiayia (Greek for Grandmother) gives the youngster’s pug, Ari, a gaudy red sweater bejeweled with jingle bells and other sparkly accoutrements, the pooch “sniff[s] it once and step[s] away.” Theo, however, is delighted with Yiayia’s gift of snowshoes, and the child takes the sweater-clad pup on a hike to Echo Lake. Along the way, and unbeknownst to Theo, Ari’s Christmas sweater gets snagged on a branch and begins to unravel, dropping bells and other decorations into the snow, the red thread extending out behind them. Brett’s signature decorative frames provide visual foreshadowing and emphasis for key points in the narrative as it unspools, with woodland creatures such as curious magpies making appearances. When Theo gets lost, there’s something of a Hansel and Gretel resolution in the works as the child finds the way home to Yiayia not by a trail of stones or breadcrumbs, but by following the red thread and the fallen bells and baubles. Brett’s legions of fans will delight in this new Christmastime story, with plenty to pore over in the detailed, wintry illustrations. Theo and Yiayia are pale-skinned and of Greek heritage; readers with a grounding in Greek mythology will note parallels between Brett’s tale and the legend of Theseus escaping the Minotaur’s labyrinth with the aid of a ball of thread given to him by the princess Ariadne.
A merry choice for Christmastime. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780593533918
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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