Not a perfect book…but that's precisely the point.
Two robot buddies navigate the ups and downs of friendship in a series of three stories.
Red Robot and Blue Robot enjoy spending time together, but something always seems to go wrong. In the first anecdote, an art session turns sour when the pair can’t understand each other's paintings, leading to some hurt feelings. In the second short tale, Blue Robot's attempt to use an umbrella to protect Red Robot from rusting on a rainy day leads to a squabble. The closing episode sees the two preparing to have “the perfect lunch” of parsnip pie (robots eat pie?), but their plans repeatedly go awry. All of the stories end with the pals fessing up to their faults and reminding each other that though each of them isn’t perfect, and neither is life, their friendship certainly is. Although the text contains some clever quips, the robots’ lengthy exchanges make for a breathless pace that can be exhausting. Nevertheless, the book imparts some good lessons about the futility of seeking flawlessness and the importance of resolving disagreements in a constructive way. Thomas’ digital illustrations, rendered using primary colors only, are presented in a simple comic-book format. The robots are imbued with life; their facial expressions and body language are spot-on in every panel. While not all of the banter is sparkling, the affection Blue and Red have for each other comes across clearly, and their outsize personalities win the reader over.
Not a perfect book…but that's precisely the point. (Picture book. 1-8)Pub Date: Jan. 4, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-66591-165-8
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2022
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.
Not even the arrival of autumn can cool down this impetuous squirrel.
Although Squirrel is skeptical about Bird’s vegetable patch (“Nothing is HAPPENING!”), Bird does produce five (count them) lovely pumpkins. Squirrel picks out a favorite: “The enormous orange one.” Bird hints that Squirrel might want to help out; Squirrel sets out to fetch some work gloves and returns to find only four pumpkins. The frequently distracted Squirrel notices more gourds disappearing and leaps to the conclusion that a thief is near. And where’s Bird?! Has Squirrel’s pal also been taken? Diligently detecting, Squirrel finds clues—peck marks, footprints, and more—and produces a sketch of the suspect. As readers will guess, each clue turns out to point to one of Squirrel and Bird’s friends. Turns out Bird was delivering pumpkins to their pals while saving the big one to give to “my very best friend,” Squirrel. But why does Squirrel haul it up a tree? “So the Pumpkin Thief can’t find it, of course!” A page of pumpkin facts provides the learning component common to all titles in this series. Once more, readers will enjoy the pleasure of prediction and repetition, Squirrel’s silly persistence, Bird’s generosity, and the vibrant color illustrations, balancing orange with green.
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781464268076
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2026
A charming mix of science lesson and winsome storytelling.
The perky red squirrel introduced in The Leaf Thief (2020) is confused.
Bird and Squirrel both love summer, but when Bird calls out a cheery “Night night,” Squirrel, yawning himself, is incredulous: “BEDTIME? It can’t be! The sun’s still up, look!” Naturally there’s a lot more bewilderment ahead. Some weeks later, Squirrel is alarmed to see it’s dark at toothbrushing time. In skittish Squirrel’s view, a “sun thief”—who also made an odd “hoo” sound the other night—is responsible. Bird explains that as summer goes on, the sun sets earlier and earlier each night and reassures Squirrel that owls cry “hoo.” But the very next evening, at bathtime, Squirrel shines a bright light into the dark, sees something looming, and screams that the sun thief has “crashed into my tree!” Patient Bird, roused from slumber, points out that it’s just Bat. But “why was she flapping about in the dark?” Now Bird explains what nocturnal means. Once again, Squirrel is amusingly slow on the uptake, allowing readers to feel superior as Hemming gently folds in some science. Slater’s witty illustrations also lighten the lessons: Bird hangs a tiny T-shirt and shorts on a diminutive laundry line and sleeps tucked into a cozy repurposed sardine can, where a scared Squirrel attempts to squeeze in; Squirrel sports a pink bath towel and shower cap; a real thief quietly makes off with a couple of items (though Squirrel and Bird remain blissfully unaware).
A charming mix of science lesson and winsome storytelling. (info on light changes and diurnal/nocturnal) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781464258183
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: June 1, 2026
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