A winning mix of light storytelling, travelogue, and character-building messages of kindness and inclusion.
A travel-loving puppy looks for treasure on an island in New Zealand in Bender’s illustrated children’s series entry.
In previous chapter books in this appealing series for early readers, floppy-eared pup Lindie Lou visited Seattle’s Space Needle in Up in Space (2016), an organic farm in Iowa in Harvest Time (2017), and New York City in Big City Magic( 2020), and she accompanied scientists to the Arctic in On Ice (2021). Here, the inquisitive and confident Lindie Lou and her human caretaker, Kate, travel from Seattle to a beach house in Mercury Bay, New Zealand, joining other adults, their children, and one of Lindie Lou’s sisters, the timid Diamond. (In each book, Lindie Lou encounters one or more of her litter mates and their adoptive families.) As the title suggests, Lindie Lou, Diamond, and the kids go on a pretend treasure hunt, then embark on a real one when they hear that a local diver has lost a traditional family heirloom—a carved, greenstone hei tiki. The main characters make a new friend: a little girl named Lilly who has an aversion to the feel of sand and a need to have things just so. The other children and the pups accept her differences and celebrate with her when she contributes to their treasure hunt. The author doesn’t deviate from the series’ successful formula: a real-life, site-specific setting; a simple plot with a dash of mild suspense; and, to wind things up, “Fun Facts,” a reading comprehension quiz, and more. Here, Lindie Lou effectively encourages Diamond to overcome her lack of confidence and fear of the unfamiliar. The action is interspersed with informative tidbits about the location, historic events, and the culture of the region (including a portrayal of a traditional Māori haka dance. Some words and phrases are set apart from the clear, large typeface by different colors, letter sizes, and positions, which will add to visual fun for young readers. Again, illustrator Willows enhances the story with expressive, watercolor-style cartoon images of the various characters.
A winning mix of light storytelling, travelogue, and character-building messages of kindness and inclusion.Pub Date: March 1, 2023
ISBN: 9781943493623
Page Count: 187
Publisher: Pina Publishing
Review Posted Online: June 14, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among
Pete, the cat who couldn’t care less, celebrates Christmas with his inimitable lassitude.
If it weren’t part of the title and repeated on every other page, readers unfamiliar with Pete’s shtick might have a hard time arriving at “groovy” to describe his Christmas celebration, as the expressionless cat displays not a hint of groove in Dean’s now-trademark illustrations. Nor does Pete have a great sense of scansion: “On the first day of Christmas, / Pete gave to me… / A road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” The cat is shown at the wheel of a yellow microbus strung with garland and lights and with a star-topped tree tied to its roof. On the second day of Christmas Pete gives “me” (here depicted as a gray squirrel who gets on the bus) “2 fuzzy gloves, and a road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” On the third day, he gives “me” (now a white cat who joins Pete and the squirrel) “3 yummy cupcakes,” etc. The “me” mentioned in the lyrics changes from day to day and gift to gift, with “4 far-out surfboards” (a frog), “5 onion rings” (crocodile), and “6 skateboards rolling” (a yellow bird that shares its skateboards with the white cat, the squirrel, the frog, and the crocodile while Pete drives on). Gifts and animals pile on until the microbus finally arrives at the seaside and readers are told yet again that it’s all “GROOVY!”
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among . (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-267527-9
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Visually sweet, though hampered by disjointed storytelling.
In this picture book from Fox News journalist Hall, a young hedgehog must find a way to protect his community when peril looms.
Hedgehog and his father both have busy days ahead. Dad’s on his way to the newspaper to report “what new news the news brings.” Hedgehog packs his backpack for an adventure, mindful of Dad’s rules: “Don’t talk to strangers” and “never ever cross the river alone.” Obeying the rules proves difficult when Hedgehog notices commotion on the other side of the river: A bear is hungrily eyeing Baby Owl, who’s fallen from her tree. With creative thinking, Hedgehog frightens off the bear and alerts Mama Owl, but the predator is still at large. So Hedgehog and Mama Owl create flyers to warn the forest residents. Though Motzo’s airy illustrations are pleasing—particularly the adorably animated Hedgehog, a tribute to Hall’s own children—the narrative feels bogged down with multiple themes as it attempts to explore the power of the written word, the importance of community, and the need to adhere to a parent’s rules. When Hedgehog apologizes for his apparent disobedience, Dad explains that Hedgehog never actually broke the rules; turns out it’s OK to cross the river in the company of an adult, and Mama Owl’s no stranger (she’s the town librarian, whom Hedgehog sees every week). The back-and-forth may leave readers confused; it also feels like a missed opportunity to discuss how to identify trustworthy adults.
Visually sweet, though hampered by disjointed storytelling. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
ISBN: 9780063357549
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2026
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