Read. Laugh. Repeat.
Can three raccoons in a trench coat be better at childcare than the boring and strict human babysitters Freddie has so far endured?
When his parents leave for the night, Freddie notices something strange about his new sitter. Three pairs of eyes gaze back at him as a trio of raccoons, standing on each other’s shoulders, struggle to stay concealed under a coat, scarf, and hat. Freddie’s suspicious, but “at least this sitter’s not boring,” he thinks as the “babysitter” helps him assemble a puzzle. Readers familiar with raccoon behavior will giggle as the creatures wash their hands (in Freddie’s dog’s bowl) before preparing dinner. Admittedly, they have terrible table manners, and dinner is literally garbage, but Freddie looks on the bright side: “At least this babysitter is not too strict.” After tactfully confirming that this is the raccoons’ first sitting job, Freddie proceeds to instruct them in the art of babysitting. They fling off their disguise, and all have a wonderful time, captured in Ledda’s witty, soft-hued cartoons—until Freddie’s parents return, none the wiser. Neither Freddie nor the droll narration mentions the word raccoon, but readers will know exactly what’s going on—and will feel proud at being in on the joke. Freddie and his parents are brown-skinned; a map of Puerto Rico offers a possible hint as to their heritage.
Read. Laugh. Repeat. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9781250345141
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts.
In this latest slice in the Food Group series, Humble Pie learns to stand up to a busy friend who’s taking advantage of his pal’s hard work on the sidelines.
Jake the Cake and Humble Pie are good friends. Where Pie is content to toil in the background, Jake happily shines in the spotlight. Alert readers will notice that Pie’s always right there, too, getting A-pluses and skiing expertly just behind—while also doing the support work that keeps every school and social project humming. “Fact: Nobody notices pie when there’s cake nearby!” When the two friends pair up for a science project, things begin well. But when the overcommitted Jake makes excuse after excuse, showing up late or not at all, a panicked Pie realizes that they won’t finish in time. When Jake finally shows up on the night before the project’s due, Pie courageously confronts him. “And for once, I wasn’t going to sugarcoat it.” The friends talk it out and collaborate through the night for the project’s successful presentation in class the next day. John and Oswald’s winning recipe—plentiful puns and delightful visual jokes—has yielded another treat here. The narration does skew didactic as it wraps up: “There’s nothing wrong with having a tough conversation, asking for help, or making sure you’re being treated fairly.” But it’s all good fun, in service of some gentle lessons about social-emotional development.
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9780063469730
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
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