Sweet, soothing, and enlightening—ideal for youngsters’ first forays into nonfiction.
In this tale based on actual events, a baby giraffe born with a unique look stands tall.
This calf is a solid tan color, without any spots. What a momentous, rare occurrence! The zookeepers’ shocked question—”Where are her spots?”—spreads throughout the zoo as the baby giraffe takes her first steps and wobbles outside. Everyone, from the visitors to the meerkats and penguins, asks about the newcomer’s lack of spots. Bright sunlit backdrops and even brighter, large-eyed characters give no hint of maliciousness; pure curiosity fuels their chattering. Mama reassures her little one with hushed advice at the end of the day: “Grow up strong and sure. Always stand tall. Be proud of who you are.” The zoo polls the public for ideas on what to name the calf. Votes are tallied worldwide, and the zoo decides on the name Kipekee, which means unique in Swahili. Verdick’s carefully chosen text, with internal rhymes and short phrasing, gently builds in momentum as Kipekee grows, reminding readers to be proud of what sets them apart. Backmatter notes that the real-life Kipekee was born at the Brights Zoo in Limestone, Tennessee, in 2023; some readers will wish for photographs of the spotless giraffe. Human characters are diverse.
Sweet, soothing, and enlightening—ideal for youngsters’ first forays into nonfiction. (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: July 22, 2025
ISBN: 9781665962025
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
A ribald and uproarious warning to those unschooled in fishy goings-on.
Sharpson offers so-fish-ticated readers a heads up about the true terror of the seas.
The title says it all. Our unseen narrator is just fine with other animals: mammals. Reptiles. Even birds. But fish? Don’t trust them! First off, the rules always seem to change with fish. Some live in fresh water; some reside in salt water. Some have gills, while others have lungs. You can never see what they’re up to, since they hang out underwater, and they’re always eating those poor, innocent crabs. Soon, the narrator introduces readers to Jeff, a vacant-eyed yellow fish—but don’t be fooled! Jeff’s “the craftiest fish of all.” All fish are, apparently, hellbent on world domination, the narrator warns. “DON’T TRUST FISH!” Finally, at the tail end, we get a sly glimpse of our unreliable narrator. Readers needn’t be ichthyologists to appreciate Sharpson’s meticulous comic timing. (“Ships always sink at sea. They never sink on land. Isn’t that strange?”) His delightful text, filled to the brim with jokes that read aloud brilliantly, pairs perfectly with Santat’s art, which shifts between extreme realism and goofy hilarity. He also fills the book with his own clever gags (such as an image of Gilligan’s Island’s S.S. Minnow going down and a bottle of sauce labeled “Surly Chik’n Srir’racha’r”).
A ribald and uproarious warning to those unschooled in fishy goings-on. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: April 8, 2025
ISBN: 9780593616673
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
Colorful, upbeat, and just for Swifties.
What is being a Swiftie all about? Finding joy in the things you love!
For Taylor Swift and her fans, love comes from baking tasty desserts, snuggling with pets, enjoying fireworks with friends, and attending concerts. Vibrant illustrations that evoke bright pop music are scattered with references to Taylor’s life, such as a red sports jersey (a nod to her high-profile relationship with a certain Kansas City Chiefs tight end) or a stack of friendship bracelets (which devotees know are commonly made by hand and traded at Swift’s concerts). Without this prior knowledge of Swift lore, this peppy picture book may feel like a somewhat superficial, though positive, list of ways to find happiness; some readers may wish the author had included messages about acceptance and self-love, commonly found in Swift’s lyrics. Still, the intended audience will welcome it as a joyful love letter to her fans. Pops of color splash across scenes of Taylor and a racially diverse set of friends doing their favorite things atop a stark white background. The star’s recognizable fashion style and facial features are spot-on, while most other featured characters feel more generic.
Colorful, upbeat, and just for Swifties. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Jan. 14, 2025
ISBN: 9781665973519
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Simon Spotlight
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
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