An attractive and engaging chapter book with a canine hero.
A dog visits Svalbard and makes friends with a polar bear.
In this fifth installment of an early reader series, small canine Lindie Lou gets to tag along with her White owner, Bryan, on a research trip. Bryan and his colleagues travel to Svalbard to study the aurora borealis. When Lindie Lou arrives in the Norwegian archipelago, she discovers that her sister, Ruby, who belongs to another scientist, is also there. While the humans focus on their research, Lindie Lou and Ruby are left to their own devices. In the course of exploring the hotel, they meet a young polar bear named Nanook. Nanook gradually convinces the dogs that he means them no harm—in part, by showing them that he is friends with other potential prey, like a reindeer named Modig—and takes them to a nearby ice cave. They see the Northern Lights on many occasions, and relish their time in the Arctic. On one visit to the ice cave, Lindie Lou gets trapped there without her friends. But by barking to draw attention, she is able to get the other animals to rescue her, leaving the humans astounded when a polar bear and a reindeer appear outside the hotel with Lindie Lou riding on Nanook’s back. Bender’s story is upbeat and enjoyable, and although it has clearly didactic elements—including science, geography, and social and emotional learning—the lessons rarely take center stage. Colorful illustrations by Willows appear throughout the book, complementing the text, which is itself part of the work’s visual appeal. Many words appear in different colors, fonts, and orientations, often related to their meanings (lake, for instance, is displayed in a watery blue while smiledis curved). A few of the font choices, particularly the one used for speed-related words, can be difficult to decipher at first glance, but on the whole, the book is well designed for beginning readers. The blend of plot and information makes the volume both educational and entertaining for children.
An attractive and engaging chapter book with a canine hero.Pub Date: April 29, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-943493-35-7
Page Count: 284
Publisher: Pina Publishing
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Earnest and well meaning but not quite a touchdown.
In Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Hurts’ motivational picture book, a youngster rebounds from disappointment.
As Jalen heads off on his first day of school, he daydreams about joining the football team, but his friend Trey soon breaks the bad news. The garden club needed more space for vegetables, so the football field was used for planting. There will be no football this year. Jalen is despondent, but his teachers Mrs. Lee and Mr. Barry and bodega owner Mr. Muhammad offer guidance that spurs him and his friends into positive action. They work to flip a nearby empty lot into a football field, with Jalen echoing his mentors’ adages. Once the field is complete, Jalen feels a swell of pride in his and his friends’ work. While the idea of kids working together to effect change is a laudable one, the bland, wordy storytelling won’t inspire young people or hold their attention. Tired, cliched inspirational comments peppered throughout often slow down the narrative, and many adult readers will find the premise—a school dropping a high-interest sports program in favor of a community garden—wildly unrealistic. Though the illustrations are colorful, with a Disney Junior charm, strange stylistic choices, such as signs with odd combinations of scribbles instead of letters, give them an unpolished look. Like Hurts, Jalen is Black; his community is diverse.
Earnest and well meaning but not quite a touchdown. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 10, 2026
ISBN: 9798217040308
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
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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