A quirky tale of romance, hedgehog-style.
Hedgehogs deal with the highs and lows of romance.
Harry the Hedgehog is frustrated to hear that his friend Randy can’t help him search for worms in the long grass. Instead, Randy’s going off to watch the sunset with his newfound paramour, Becky. “Ever since Randy met Becky, he’s been as dull as a donkey,” says Harry. “I hate love! I’ll go worm hunting by myself.” As Harry dramatically marches away, a sweet female hedgehog named Annie greets him, but he snarls and stomps off, breaking his glasses in the process. Detailed and energetic pictures capture curmudgeonly Harry as he goes off on his own to find worms and is suddenly entranced by what appears to be a beautiful floating hedgehog hiding in the grass. Could this be love? Why won’t the mysterious hedgehog speak? Why doesn’t she respond to the worms, acorns, cherries, and flowers he’s offering? And what about the lovestruck Annie, who is waiting in the wings? Though somewhat meandering, this story, originally published in Dutch, has charm and is sprinkled with warmth and gentle humor; it will elicit oohs and aahs (and perhaps a few age-appropriate groans) from its young audience, and future romantics will find satisfaction in the happy if rather predictable ending. It should also make a pleasing choice for Valentine’s Day.
A quirky tale of romance, hedgehog-style. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: April 30, 2024
ISBN: 9798890630230
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clavis
Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2024
Fun times, fond friends, and a festive farmyard setting—little ones will be charmed.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Toad and Little Blue Truck get ready for a hayride.
After the titular vehicle is loaded with hay, Toad is nowhere to be found. “Beep! Beep! Beep! Where are you, Toad?” asks Little Blue Truck. All the barnyard animals look for him. Sheep searches the meadow. Goose and Duck check the pond. Others pitch in, too, but Toad seems to have disappeared…until Hen hears snoring coming from the pile of hay in the back of Little Blue Truck. Although the text’s scansion is imperfect in places (adults may want to pre-read to ensure a smooth read-aloud), the bouncy meter and rhyming text nevertheless capture the energy of the search and the farmyard community’s concern for Toad’s safety, making this a solid storytime choice. Eye-catching illustrations with rich, fully saturated colors balance the right level of detail while still highlighting the animal that is the focus of each verse. By introducing one farm animal at a time, Schertle also helps the youngest readers begin to identify barnyard animals by name and understand their unique farm homes. Traditional animal sounds are part of the text, and listeners will add them to their vocabulary. It all ends with the promised hayride, bringing the tale to a joyous ending.
Fun times, fond friends, and a festive farmyard setting—little ones will be charmed. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2026
ISBN: 9780063436121
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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