Charmingly homey, in all the senses of the word.
A child and a snowperson collaborate to build a snowy palace, culminating in a magnificent ball.
Right from the endpapers, readers are immersed in a wordless, wintry world. Inside a snug home, a child awakens in the middle of the night to a magical scene before going downstairs and opening the door. The youngster’s newly built snowperson beckons. After they frolic together, the child must eventually return inside, stranding the snowperson outdoors. Hatching a plan, the pair design, construct, and outfit a grand snow castle with rummaged windows, couches, even a chandelier. When completed, it’s so incandescently inviting that the town’s children and their snowpeople arrive to start a splendid community party. Fulfilled, child and snowperson slumber in their respective homes. The book owes a chilly debt to another frosty favorite, Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman, and these two tonally, structurally similar titles would pair perfectly together. Visually, Lim’s snowballing spreads and discrete square panels glide along smoothly. Divinely diaphanous watercolors communicate complex ideas without a word. Atmospheric cool icy blues, violets and indigos make the white snow, stars and glowing interiors feel cozily illuminated. The child is tan-skinned and dark-haired; there’s much diversity among the party guests.
Charmingly homey, in all the senses of the word. (Picture book. 5-10)Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
ISBN: 9781536238068
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: June 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: today
BOOK REVIEW
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BOOK REVIEW
Thoughtful and joyful.
A child of Vietnamese descent fantasizes about the perfect outfit for Tết.
One night, Mai dreams about being a big “STAAAAAAR” and fielding questions on the red carpet. Mai’s literal dream dress is a sparkly silver ballroom gown with a sweetheart cut. After waking up, the child is eager to tell Ba all about it, but first it’s time to get ready. It’s the first day of Tết, or Lunar New Year, and the family plans to celebrate at Mai’s grandmother’s house. Though Mai loves visiting Bà Nội, the child balks at donning the áo dài, a Vietnamese outfit consisting of a tunic worn over trousers. “Stars wear dresses and gowns,” Mai tells Ba. But Ba shows Mai the family photo album, explaining that Bà Nội had her own sewing school in Vietnam and that her students lovingly dubbed her the “Queen of Áo Dài.” To keep their traditions alive when the family emigrated, Bà Nội continued to make áo dài for her loved ones, and the children learned to sew them as an expression of love. Finally, with a newfound appreciation for the garment, Mai greets Bà Nội with a hug, clad in a customized áo dài made by Ba. Told entirely through naturally expressed and well-paced dialogue and accompanied by vividly textured illustrations, this is a loving tale of a family finding a creative way to reshape a beloved tradition.
Thoughtful and joyful. (glossary, “let’s design our own áo dài” activity) (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781665917346
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
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BOOK REVIEW
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