A warm tale sure to conjure up smiles.
A ghost seeks spooking territory.
“They say every ghost needs a place to haunt, and if you can’t find one, you’re not even a real ghost,” explains our narrator, who wears a little brown top hat and carries a matching briefcase. The protagonist floats down a city street bathed in dark purple tones, casting round-as-a-button eyes high and low. But the other phantoms are fiercely protective of their hard-won spots, from nearby houses to a mailbox to the sewer. Just when the protagonist is about to give up on finding a place to inhabit, a cheerful black bird points out a derelict little shed—a true fixer-upper. At last, the tale comes full circle, with the ghost—now a proud homeowner—deciding to embrace the spirit of generosity as another uncertain young spirit shows up, asking for a place to stay. Throughout the story, the narrator’s fears (“What if I’m not any good at haunting?”) will resonate with old and young alike. The scenes are reminiscent of the job or house hunt, but the ghosts’ jitters also mirror the emotions many kids experience on the first day of school. Mylie’s swirling, muted pastels feature visible strokes, with high contrast between the white of the ghosts and the black or purple backgrounds. While the color scheme sets an ominous tone, the smiling protagonist will reassure youngsters—as will Sterer’s gently determined text.
A warm tale sure to conjure up smiles. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: July 15, 2025
ISBN: 9781454960478
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Sure to have little ones giggling.
Jacques is a hedgehog with a big secret: “I wear real, bona fide underwear.”
Our narrator received a mysterious package one day; an illustration shows a pair of underwear tied to a balloon with a note “from the Universe” floating down into Jacques’ burrow. Hedgehogs don’t wear underwear, however. Will Jacques be shunned? Jacques worries but comes to a decision: “I have to wear them. When I do I feel special.” Determined, Jacques, who’s been invited to a party, makes a dramatic entrance, with undies in hand. Jacques’ declaration (“I WEAR UNDERWEAR”) is met with remarks of dismay, before another hedgehog opens up about similar fears and shows off a pair of cowboy boots. More hedgehogs introduce themselves with their own confessions. The story ends with Jacques unveiling a painting of the underwear in a gallery filled with hedgehogs wearing all sorts of attire. Though the book is simple in plot, characters, and setting, it wins in its balance of bathroom humor, dramatic storytelling, and celebrations of individual expression. French words are peppered throughout, adding to the fun without detracting from the story for those unfamiliar with the language. The cartoonish illustrations brim with fun; Valdez relies heavily on geometric shapes (triangle noses for the hedgehogs; huge circles for their eyes). Details such as speech bubbles and recurring turtle and snake characters contribute to the outlandish humor.
Sure to have little ones giggling. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9781250814388
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
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