MY LITTLE HALF-MOON

Name: MY LITTLE HALF-MOON
Author: Douglas Todd Jennerich
ISBN: 978-0-399-16901-4

by Douglas Todd Jennerich ; illustrated by Kate Berube ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 16, 2017

For caregivers of kids with brief, harmless fixations the story will ring true—but for little readers, some real nighttime...

bookshelf

A child’s fascination (and frustration) with a seemingly lonely, incomplete half-moon leads to a lunar surprise and friendship.

The unnamed child narrator of this series of rhyming couplets has decided that the half-moon can’t be happy. The bear-suit–clad white child first offers gifts to impress it, then yells up in anger at its indifference, trying to explain to it the wonder of being the moon. Some of it is lovely (the moon is “the reason that dogs and wolves howl”), other bits not so much, the result of trying to shoehorn words such as “balk” and “fondue” into the rhyme scheme. In parts, the story gets into the narrator’s mind, but in sum, it seems like a story that doesn’t know if it wants to be a wacky escalation of the things the child will do to get the half-moon’s attention or a simple meditation on its stunning beauty when it appears in full. The illustrations, with deep blues, greens, and blacks against a simple, chalky yellow moon, split the difference, acting as a moody but appropriately wistful accompaniment to the sometimes-draggy text. They also introduce a subtextual story in the form of a bunny-suit–clad child of color who watches the narrator’s antics and eventually offers friendship. Like the text, it is sweet but also feels forced.

For caregivers of kids with brief, harmless fixations the story will ring true—but for little readers, some real nighttime moon spotting may be even better. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: May 16, 2017

ISBN: 978-0-399-16901-4

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: Feb. 13, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2017

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

bookshelf

THE PUMPKIN THIEF

From the Leaf Thief series

by Alice Hemming ; illustrated by Nicola Slater ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 28, 2026

More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.

bookshelf

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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
THE SUN THIEF
by Alice Hemming ; illustrated by Nicola Slater

- BOOK REVIEW
THE SNOW THIEF
by Alice Hemming ; illustrated by Nicola Slater

- BOOK REVIEW
THE BISON AND THE BUTTERFLY
by Alice Hemming ; illustrated by Nancy Leschnikoff

bookshelf

I AM SOMEBODY

by Nyasha Williams ; illustrated by Ashley Evans ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 27, 2023

Empowerment to children to be the change they wish to see in the world.

bookshelf

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)