"OH, NO," SAID ELEPHANT

Name: "OH, NO," SAID ELEPHANT
Author: A.H. Benjamin
ISBN: 978-988-8341-07-8

by A.H. Benjamin ; illustrated by Alireza Goldouzian ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2016

Kids will giggle over Elephant’s attempts to play and cheer when he finally triumphs. The underlying message reassures...

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Poor Elephant. Every time that Leopard, Monkey, and Zebra want to play a new game, Elephant says “Oh, no, I’m not good at that.” But he tries anyway.

For hide-and-seek, he’s too big. For leap-frog, he’s too tall. For jumping rope, he’s too clumsy. For hopscotch, he’s too heavy. For tag, he’s too slow. Each time the good-hearted, amiable Elephant tries his best, but he just can’t do it. Finally, it’s his turn to choose a game, and tug of war is just his specialty—because he’s too strong! Now it’s the animals’ turn to say, “Oh, no.” By itself, the story would work just fine, with its easy repetition and patterning, but it’s the large trim size, saturated colors, and comical details that enliven it and make it pop. Leopard and Zebra are clothed, and Elephant sports a plaid bow tie and pants. The facial expressions tell the whole story of what happens with each effort. The use of page space smartly plays up the differences in the sizes of the animals.

Kids will giggle over Elephant’s attempts to play and cheer when he finally triumphs. The underlying message reassures without being apparent . (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: June 1, 2016

ISBN: 978-988-8341-07-8

Page Count: 48

Publisher: minedition

Review Posted Online: April 12, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
THE SHATTERED HORN
by A.H. Benjamin

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TENNYSON’S BIG SECRET
by A.H. Benjamin ; illustrated by Peter Trimarco

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I'M A PRINCE!
by A.H. Benjamin ; illustrated by Alessandro Montagnana

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I AM A SPICY NUGGET

by Loryn Brantz ; illustrated by Loryn Brantz ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 8, 2026

An instructive tale about big feelings, lightened up by a furious kid’s theatrics.

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An angry child attempts to calm down.

A kid with paper-white skin, clad in a blue dress and striped tights, makes an absurd request: “Can we get a pet penguin, name it Marshmallow, and feed it carrots?” Mom, off-stage, says simply, “Not today,” and the tot transforms into a rather odd creature: a spicy nugget! The nugget is imperfectly ovoid in form, with red rosy cheeks, rage-filled dot-eyes, and a spiraling black-hole mouth. The sight gag works beautifully: When one feels truly angry, all poise disappears, leaving only a flailing ball of rage. Our protagonist hurls a teddy bear, unsuccessfully tries out a list of calming methods, and finally retreats to bed, where “I can feel my breathing; I know that I am safe.” The youngster reverts back to human form, and Mom arrives with kind words: “You are not your big feelings. You are not your angry thoughts.” The takeaway is unmistakable, especially at the story’s conclusion: It’s OK to get mad and important to practice coping strategies. The young narrator expresses emotion with fabulous vigor, though the story’s lilting rhyme scheme occasionally distracts from these outbursts with cuteness. Nonetheless, this increasingly enraged nugget-child is irresistible; anyone who’s grappled with overwhelming emotions will relate—in a word, everyone.

An instructive tale about big feelings, lightened up by a furious kid’s theatrics. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026

ISBN: 9798217042142

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: May 18, 2026

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
NOW THAT YOU'RE HERE
by Loryn Brantz ; illustrated by Loryn Brantz

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FOR YOUR SMILE
by Loryn Brantz ; illustrated by Loryn Brantz

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IT HAD TO BE YOU
by Loryn Brantz ; illustrated by Loryn Brantz

- SEEN & HEARD
Brooklyn Readies for 2026 Book Festival

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK LOST AND FOUND

From the Little Blue Truck series

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 18, 2026

Fun times, fond friends, and a festive farmyard setting—little ones will be charmed.

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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)