The joy—and angst—of spring, artfully depicted.
A nature-loving pup overcomes seasonal allergies.
The playful dog enjoys everything about spring: romping, rolling around, and making “spring angels” in a blooming field. But when the pooch stops to smell the flowers, a sneezing fit ensues, conveyed in a hilariously over-the-top montage, complete with onomatopoeia: “Hurk! Haaa. Aaaah…CHOOOO!!” The dog returns home and sobs. “Spring is so special. How can I live now?” Happily, the pup’s tan-skinned owner has a solution: protective gear! With a bandanna and a pair of thick goggles, the pup may not be able to smell anything, but no matter. “I STILL LOVE SPRING!” Having experienced winter and Easter in previous outings, Yoon’s goofy, adorable canine approaches spring with the same zeal. Minimal text captures the pooch’s pure lust for life. Yoon’s sketchy, cartoonish illustrations are a necessary part of the storytelling, deftly portraying both action and emotion, from utter despondency to pure delight. The field of flowers looks lush enough to lie in, bursting with color and petals; the dotted tracks across the pages evoke pollen—and sneeze particles—floating in the air. Little readers will giggle at the dog’s silly anti-allergy getup, while similarly afflicted adults will chuckle at its effectiveness.
The joy—and angst—of spring, artfully depicted. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
ISBN: 9781536237979
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2026
An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to.
This simplified version of Diesen and Hanna’s The Pout-Pout Fish (2008) is appropriate for babies and toddlers.
Brief, rhyming text tells the story of a sullen fish cheered up with a kiss. A little pink sea creature pokes his head out of a hole in the sea bottom to give the gloomy fish some advice: “Smile, Mr. Fish! / You look so down // With your glum-glum face / And your pout-pout frown.” He explains that there’s no reason to be worried, scared, sad or mad and concludes: “How about a smooch? / And a cheer-up wish? // Now you look happy: / What a smile, Mr. Fish!” Simple and sweet, this tale offers the lesson that sometimes, all that’s needed for a turnaround in mood is some cheer and encouragement to change our perspective. The clean, uncluttered illustrations are kept simple, except for the pout-pout fish’s features, which are delightfully expressive. Little ones will easily recognize and likely try to copy the sad, scared and angry looks that cross the fish’s face.
An upbeat early book on feelings with a simple storyline that little ones will respond to. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-374-37084-8
Page Count: 12
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An invitation for readers to learn through observation.
Llama Llama and Mama spot different shapes at the farmers market.
Dewdney’s iconic llama stars in this board book, a part of the Learning With Llama Llama series. The story showcases five shapes: rectangles, squares, triangles, circles, and stars. Rather than simply showing the shapes and naming them, illustrator Morrow embeds them inside scenes from the farmers market. Each page turn uncovers a different shape. Signage and a shopping bag pop as rectangles, while umbrellas, a slice of watermelon, and the peaks of the tents form triangles. Shapes that appeared on previous pages are visible even as the story progresses, and the final page helps readers revisit and recall shapes they’ve already found. There are plenty of engaging details to keep readers looking, including other animal shoppers, kite-flying, and sudden, surprising rain. The text is concise, and each spread features a simple question inviting participation. This title is more captivating than other shape concept books, especially those that show block-colored shapes without context. Llama Llama’s popularity will make this a hit with fans, and readers looking for substance will find it. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An invitation for readers to learn through observation. (Board book. 1-3)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-46509-7
Page Count: 14
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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