An entertaining read-aloud storybook that reassures tots that, with faith in God, all things are possible.
Faith in God liberates a young elephant from the prison of fear in Owino’s illustrated children’s book.
The tale opens on the woebegone face of a small elephant trapped in a cage somewhere on the African savanna, where she longs to roam free, smell the roses and sage, and play with the ducks in a nearby pond. A kindly lion happens by and breaks open the cage door. Alas, the elephant stays put in the only home she has ever known, plagued by a swarm of “What If Worrybugs” that stoke her anxieties about change. What if life outside the cage is too hard? What if no one likes her? What if the roses and sage don’t smell as good as she imagines? The lion steadies her with an encouraging message: If she believes in herself and calls on God’s strength, she can summon the courage to exit her cage forever. Buttressing the lion’s arguments are many Bible passages, including Jesus’ parables of the lilies of the field and of the mustard seed, which enjoin believers to cease fretting and put their trust in Providence. Owino’s yarn feels a bit like the down-to-earth Christian apologetics of C. S. Lewis (complete with a Narnia-ready heroic lion) done in the style of Doctor Seuss. The author’s limpid, melodic, easy-to-recite rhymes skillfully evoke kids’ social timidity and fear of shaming themselves (“What if running is tricky and / you fall on your face? / What if ducks are not friendly / and give you a chase?”) as well as their heady ebullience when obstacles are surmounted (“‘Buzz off, you What Ifs, / I have places to be. / I can do all things when / God strengthens me’….She spun and she twirled, / her feet did not stop, / ‘till she trampled that / cage and ran free / from that spot”). Paj’s illustrations feature rich, vibrant colors—there are dusky purple twilights and glowing gold and grass-green sunrises—and Disneyesque figures with huge, expressive eyes; they make a catchy visual accompaniment that helps bring the story to life for kids.
An entertaining read-aloud storybook that reassures tots that, with faith in God, all things are possible.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: 9798989100613
Page Count: 38
Publisher: SmallPub
Review Posted Online: June 18, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Uncomplicated fun that sets readers up for the earlier, more-complicated books to come.
Little Blue Truck and his pal Toad meet friends old and new on a springtime drive through the country.
This lift-the-flap, interactive entry in the popular Little Blue Truck series lacks the narrative strength and valuable life lessons of the original Little Blue Truck (2008) and its sequel, Little Blue Truck Leads the Way (2009). Both of those books, published for preschoolers rather than toddlers, featured rich storylines, dramatic, kinetic illustrations, and simple but valuable life lessons—the folly of taking oneself too seriously, the importance of friends, and the virtue of taking turns, for example. At about half the length and with half as much text as the aforementioned titles, this volume is a much quicker read. Less a story than a vernal celebration, the book depicts a bucolic drive through farmland and encounters with various animals and their young along the way. Beautifully rendered two-page tableaux teem with butterflies, blossoms, and vibrant pastel, springtime colors. Little Blue greets a sheep standing in the door of a barn: “Yoo-hoo, Sheep! / Beep-beep! / What’s new?” Folding back the durable, card-stock flap reveals the barn’s interior and an adorable set of twin lambs. Encounters with a duck and nine ducklings, a cow with a calf, a pig with 10 (!) piglets, a family of bunnies, and a chicken with a freshly hatched chick provide ample opportunity for counting and vocabulary work.
Uncomplicated fun that sets readers up for the earlier, more-complicated books to come. (Board book. 1-4)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-544-93809-0
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
