A gently reassuring look at the big feelings elicited by a classic childhood game.
During a game of hide-and-seek, a youngster worries that he’s concealed himself too well.
In this Australian import, four kids scatter while another counts to 10 before shouting the familiar childhood phrase: “Coming! Ready or not!” Archie, a tot in a bright red pullover, sneaks into a cupboard. One by one, each child is found until only Archie is left. In his hiding spot, Archie wills himself to stay calm and not make a sound. But then the others go outside to search, and Archie’s cupboard starts to feel constricting. The house is quiet, and Archie wonders if they’ve stopped searching. “I’m still here,” he whispers. “Come back. Find me.” It’s thrilling to be the last one found, but the joyful game also has its scary moments. Many kids will relate to Godwin’s exploration of Archie’s emotional arc. Morris’ muted palette gives her artwork a serene feeling, but the layouts add dramatic tension. Several pages feature smaller panels showing hiding spots, as well as a zoomed-out look at the entire house that shows others being found. The darkness is also heightened in many scenes, with slivers of light serving as the sole saving grace in the increasingly ominous-looking cupboard. The kids have light tan skin; two (including Archie) appear to be East Asian.
A gently reassuring look at the big feelings elicited by a classic childhood game. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 9, 2025
ISBN: 9781623546182
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
An instructive tale about big feelings, lightened up by a furious kid’s theatrics.
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
SEEN & HEARD
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
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