An oddly opaque look at coping with difficult emotions.
A young swimmer gets the blues.
The text’s poetic voice belongs to an auburn-haired youngster with dark eyes and pale, freckled skin, surrounded by other children at the community pool. As the others splash and play, the protagonist stays off to the side under a sign that reads “NO RUNNING / NO DIVING / NO CRYING.” The youngster recalls participating in synchronized swimming—happier times. Now, though, “there just isn’t any room…to be a creature so blue.” The story takes a fantastical turn as the child dives down through a drain and into a swampy world where the youngster’s tears create a new watery environment. There, the narrator heals, transforming into a gilled, web-footed creature—a metaphor for overcoming depression? Unfortunately, the tale’s meaning is obscure, and the words and eerie illustrations alike seem aimed at an audience older than that of most picture books. When the child returns to the pool, none of the children are alarmed in the least by the protagonist’s transformation into a sea creature. In fact, they also seem to change into alligators, beavers, and turtles—or do they? While Eggenschwiler’s vividly saturated, surreal imagery is enticing, the line between fantasy and reality is blurred to the point of confusion; young readers likely won’t understand or readily engage with this work.
An oddly opaque look at coping with difficult emotions. ((Picture book. 6-9))Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9781525311338
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.
Not even the arrival of autumn can cool down this impetuous squirrel.
Although Squirrel is skeptical about Bird’s vegetable patch (“Nothing is HAPPENING!”), Bird does produce five (count them) lovely pumpkins. Squirrel picks out a favorite: “The enormous orange one.” Bird hints that Squirrel might want to help out; Squirrel sets out to fetch some work gloves and returns to find only four pumpkins. The frequently distracted Squirrel notices more gourds disappearing and leaps to the conclusion that a thief is near. And where’s Bird?! Has Squirrel’s pal also been taken? Diligently detecting, Squirrel finds clues—peck marks, footprints, and more—and produces a sketch of the suspect. As readers will guess, each clue turns out to point to one of Squirrel and Bird’s friends. Turns out Bird was delivering pumpkins to their pals while saving the big one to give to “my very best friend,” Squirrel. But why does Squirrel haul it up a tree? “So the Pumpkin Thief can’t find it, of course!” A page of pumpkin facts provides the learning component common to all titles in this series. Once more, readers will enjoy the pleasure of prediction and repetition, Squirrel’s silly persistence, Bird’s generosity, and the vibrant color illustrations, balancing orange with green.
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781464268076
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2026
Empowerment to children to be the change they wish to see in the world.
Be a “somebody” who makes a difference!
A Black child witnesses various transgressions over the course of a day. Noticing trash on the walk to the bus stop, the young narrator thinks, “Somebody should do something about that.” Two students push their way ahead of everyone else in order to get good seats on the school bus, prompting the child to muse, “Somebody should speak up about that.” Throughout the day, the child notices examples of bullying and unfairness. These seemingly minor infractions start mounting. Finally, when the protagonist’s teacher tells the students that it’s snack time, the narrator notices that some students don’t have anything to eat. Instead of wishing for a “somebody,” the perceptive pupil realizes, “I am Somebody” and shares food with the others. The epiphany doesn’t stop there. When the narrator arrives home and notices there are toys everywhere but Mom is on a work call, the child responds to Mom’s request for help by cleaning up the mess. Accompanied by simple yet expressive illustrations, this is a loving and much-needed story that encourages kids to make a difference; pair it with Joshunda Sanders’ I Can Write the World (2019), illustrated by Charly Palmer. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Empowerment to children to be the change they wish to see in the world. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 27, 2023
ISBN: 9780762480517
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2023
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