An enchanting story that honors both the artistic journey and the blooms that—eventually—result.
Four kittens prepare gifts for their mother’s special day in this tender celebration of artmaking and family.
Freedman’s spare text follows siblings Oleander, Tulip, Herbie, and Blossom as they each create flower-related gifts for Mama. Blossom writes a song about flowers, Herbie constructs floral collages from “saved-up bits and scraps,” and Tulip experiments with printmaking to create her flowers. Oleander plants a seed but worries as Mama’s day approaches with no bloom in sight. The illustrations showcase Freedman’s masterful use of composition and color; early spreads employ muted grays and browns as the kittens work against a backdrop of textured brick walls and graph paper, their fur rendered in delicate graphite. After Tulip uses an orange crayon to create C-shapes for petals, washes of color begin appearing. She continues exploring on a vibrant double-page spread where she swishes and splatters with forks, creating an exuberant explosion of orange and pink blooms. Freedman demonstrates how negative space directs attention—a single kitten on a white backdrop draws the eye more powerfully than busy backgrounds. And though we never see Oleander’s flower blossom, gentle Mama praises his gift all the same. The quiet pacing and low text load make this ideal for the storytime crowd, while the process-focused narrative validates diverse creative approaches.
An enchanting story that honors both the artistic journey and the blooms that—eventually—result. (about the art) (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
ISBN: 9780593695494
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Nov. 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2025
An earnest graduation gift: sweet for lifelong fans, cheerfully encouraging for striving, future graduates.
Success comes at last for the bright-eyed Pigeon.
A clever, tongue-in-cheek ersatz colophon reveals that this graduate has been awarded a “Master of Ornery-thology, Bachelor of Arts of Persuasion with a Minor in Major Freak-outs (summa cum loudly).” Fans will be glad that the Pigeon’s tireless, abundant optimism is finally being ceremoniously recognized. On the cover, the Pigeon wears a mortarboard at a jaunty angle, commenting, “I have the hat!” Of course, dressing the part is essential. But also, “I did the work. I paid attention to the little details. I took some BIG steps.” The Pigeon encountered obstacles (not shown, but many memorable ones will come to mind for the Pigeon's followers). And the Pigeon is plagued by worries familiar to many students who are about to graduate: “WHAT WILL HAPPEN THEN?!? What will I do? Who will I be?” The Pigeon appears in every frame, in close-ups and in poses variously thoughtful, confident, or slightly distressed. Our hero’s simple big eyes and wings are, as ever, remarkably expressive. “Oop!” In one scene, while walking off the dais, diploma in wing, the Pigeon comes to what seems like the edge of a chasm. At last, our hero takes flight with other graduates. Willems' popular characters Gerald and Piggie are there to look on admiringly.
An earnest graduation gift: sweet for lifelong fans, cheerfully encouraging for striving, future graduates. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: March 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781454960430
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending.
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)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
ISBN: 9781454999621
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
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BOOK REVIEW
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