Cute kitties and silly, imaginative fun make for a tale that’s perfect for preschoolers.
Three cats let their imaginations run wild as they wonder what might await them inside a mystery gift box.
Two cats ponder the contents of a white box with pink polka dots and a bow. The white cat is convinced that it must be a cake, but the orange cat thinks it might be something more sinister. A third cat joins them. Could there be a crocodile inside? Maybe a great white shark? Or, wildest of all, a 30-ton monster guinea pig? Mack ends the book with the mystery unsolved, an open question with which readers can wrestle. The pages are laid out with the cats on the left-hand side; their imagined scenarios, set inside colorful thought bubbles, play out on the right. The illustrations are simple, clear, and appealing. The cats are drawn with realistic details: plush fur, soft paws, long whiskers. The imagined side of the page has a cartoonish touch, the surprises appearing out of the box, larger than life, which makes those scenes playful rather than frightening. The moral of the story is clear: Sometimes what we imagine is scarier than reality. Some might be disappointed that the contents of the box are never revealed, but then what’s really inside isn’t actually the point. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Cute kitties and silly, imaginative fun make for a tale that’s perfect for preschoolers. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 10, 2023
ISBN: 9780823452071
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Neal Porter/Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Aug. 12, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2023
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say.
A dog-loving child encourages a less-than-enthusiastic younger one to imagine they’re both canines.
From the first declaration—“I’d be a big dog! And you’d be a little one!”—readers know who’s calling the shots. Initially, the protagonists cavort off the page and through the neighborhood together, performing doggy capers such as tail wagging, stick carrying, and dirt digging. But by the time they encounter a multitude of like-minded creatures at the dog park, the disgruntled small pup is exhibiting out-and-out rebellion: “Being a dog is YOUR idea! Sometimes I HAVE IDEAS TOO!” The narrative wraps up with the younger child pretending to be a different animal entirely—cleverly foreshadowed through subtle details in the illustrations. Even the endpapers—lively silhouettes of dogs in the beginning and many different animals in closing—extend the theme to suggest the imaginative possibilities of pretend play. Cheerful, lightly hued colors fit the whimsical mood, while expressive body language allows the art to tell the story with a minimum of words. Ending on a surprising note, with a sweet compromise between the two main characters, the tale gives both kids the freedom to embrace their own preferences and styles—while still enjoying their game.
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9780316581721
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
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