An affirming picture book that will inspire young readers of all abilities to appreciate all ways of seeing.
A young boy learns to love the unique way he sees things in Corey’s picture book.
Jaxon, a young white boy, loves colors. He especially loves “the purple sky, the orange grass, or the pink, sparkly sidewalks” that make up his world. When Jaxon starts third grade and is asked to draw a picture of his summer vacation, he is excited to share his colorful world. However, he is mocked mercilessly by his classmates for getting his “colors wrong.” Determined to “fix” his shortcomings, Jaxon begs his parents for special glasses designed to correct his color blindness. When they arrive and Jaxon tries them on, he’s excited to see colors like everyone else. However, he soon realizes something: Seeing the pale blue of the sky and the grey of the sidewalk instead of the purple and sparkly pink that he’s used to is kind of boring. Written by a fifth grader with color blindness, this picture book celebrates how differences can enrich life and how color blindness can be viewed as a unique perspective, akin to having “magic eyes,” that makes the world far more vibrant. Full-color, textured illustrations by Rodis enhance the experience, showcasing the colors Jaxon sees in stark contrast to the hues most other people perceive. Young readers will enjoy Jaxon’s story and find inspiration to embrace their own unique traits.
An affirming picture book that will inspire young readers of all abilities to appreciate all ways of seeing.Pub Date: July 15, 2025
ISBN: 9781637557969
Page Count: 38
Publisher: Mascot Kids
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts.
In this latest slice in the Food Group series, Humble Pie learns to stand up to a busy friend who’s taking advantage of his pal’s hard work on the sidelines.
Jake the Cake and Humble Pie are good friends. Where Pie is content to toil in the background, Jake happily shines in the spotlight. Alert readers will notice that Pie’s always right there, too, getting A-pluses and skiing expertly just behind—while also doing the support work that keeps every school and social project humming. “Fact: Nobody notices pie when there’s cake nearby!” When the two friends pair up for a science project, things begin well. But when the overcommitted Jake makes excuse after excuse, showing up late or not at all, a panicked Pie realizes that they won’t finish in time. When Jake finally shows up on the night before the project’s due, Pie courageously confronts him. “And for once, I wasn’t going to sugarcoat it.” The friends talk it out and collaborate through the night for the project’s successful presentation in class the next day. John and Oswald’s winning recipe—plentiful puns and delightful visual jokes—has yielded another treat here. The narration does skew didactic as it wraps up: “There’s nothing wrong with having a tough conversation, asking for help, or making sure you’re being treated fairly.” But it’s all good fun, in service of some gentle lessons about social-emotional development.
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9780063469730
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Visually accomplished but marred by stereotypical cultural depictions.
Ellis, known for her illustrations for Colin Meloy’s Wildwood series, here riffs on the concept of “home.”
Shifting among homes mundane and speculative, contemporary and not, Ellis begins and ends with views of her own home and a peek into her studio. She highlights palaces and mansions, but she also takes readers to animal homes and a certain famously folkloric shoe (whose iconic Old Woman manages a passel of multiethnic kids absorbed in daring games). One spread showcases “some folks” who “live on the road”; a band unloads its tour bus in front of a theater marquee. Ellis’ compelling ink and gouache paintings, in a palette of blue-grays, sepia and brick red, depict scenes ranging from mythical, underwater Atlantis to a distant moonscape. Another spread, depicting a garden and large building under connected, transparent domes, invites readers to wonder: “Who in the world lives here? / And why?” (Earth is seen as a distant blue marble.) Some of Ellis’ chosen depictions, oddly juxtaposed and stripped of any historical or cultural context due to the stylized design and spare text, become stereotypical. “Some homes are boats. / Some homes are wigwams.” A sailing ship’s crew seems poised to land near a trio of men clad in breechcloths—otherwise unidentified and unremarked upon.
Visually accomplished but marred by stereotypical cultural depictions. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6529-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2014
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