Meeting a childhood challenge proves beautifully rewarding in this fun, dreamy story.
A boy learns to ride a bike with a team of supporters and a big dose of self-confidence.
In their fourth story together, the Mile End kids, a group of friends who live in urban Montreal, have congregated to help diminutive, determined Tom get the hang of cycling. Tom’s pals offer encouragement (“Good job, Tom”) and taunts: “Try not to wobble so much, watermelon head.” They set up obstacles to navigate—“bins and pots and garbage of all sorts.” Once Tom’s mastered these, he decides to take off his training wheels. Moments later, Tom turns the alley corner and heads down the block. Awaiting his return, his friends worry: Could he be lost? Could he have been in an accident? Might he return to them as a ghost? Little do they know, Tom is savoring his newfound freedom, envisioning himself cycling through scenes of pastoral perfection. The kids soon fête his safe return, declaring him the “Tour de Block Champion.” Arsenault lovingly observes the bumpy path of progress that leads to gleeful independence. Her densely shaded, playfully intricate illustrations give her story a special sense of place and childlike creativity. Tom is pale-skinned and blond and wears his bike helmet diligently. The Mile End kids vary in skin tone, height, and attitude.
Meeting a childhood challenge proves beautifully rewarding in this fun, dreamy story. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
ISBN: 9780735267626
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2026
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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