The magical quality of the photographic illustrations and the enchanting eggs give this Easter-themed story extra appeal.
A rabbit named Fern solves a mystery as she follows clues in the shape of decorated eggs painted with the faces of her farm-animal friends.
A dramatic cover photograph of a huge rabbit in a basket of intricately decorated Easter eggs draws readers into this story, the fifth in the Sweet Pea & Friends series. The story is illustrated with photographs of the animals that live on the author-photographer team’s farm in Vermont, with a large cast of characters who have appeared in previous books in the series. The production values of these digitally composed photographic illustrations are outstanding, with an oversized format, high-quality paper, and brilliant colors that showcase the beautifully painted eggs hidden throughout. Many of the eggs are painted in Ukrainian folk-art style, with one large egg on each spread decorated with an animal character’s face, predicting the appearance of that animal on the next spread. The actual story is a little too wordy for the intended audience, with a rather confusing total of 17 named characters to keep straight as the simple mystery of who planted the eggs unfolds. The solution to the mystery of the face-bedecked eggs is, of course, revealed with the appearance of the Easter Bunny, who has been glimpsed throughout the previous illustrations. A concluding note provides more information about the farm animals and the artist who painted the eggs.
The magical quality of the photographic illustrations and the enchanting eggs give this Easter-themed story extra appeal. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Feb. 12, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-316-41166-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Jan. 14, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending.
Don’t let the Pigeon ruin his own special day!
Anyone who has ever encountered the title character in any of his books—whether his first, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (2003), or one of its many sequels—will understand that the bird’s innate self-love drives his every interaction. Little wonder, then, that he’s thrilled about his own “bird-day.” He has the hat. He has his “FANCY PLUMAGE.” And, best of all, he will get to blow out a candle “on my bird-day hot dog!” As he revels in the knowledge that this day is all for him, comeuppance is lurking. Someone has already blown out the bird-day candle—and eaten half the hot dog. It turns out that the Pigeon’s frenemy, the Duckling, has the same bird-day—as do a slew of newly hatched chicks. The Pigeon’s obligatory eight-panel freakout ensues. “What am I—invisible? I just want to be seen,” he whimpers, and when he receives some much-needed reassurance, he settles down and willingly shares his special day. While the switch from unapologetic narcissism to mature acceptance happens in the record-breaking span of two pages, the book is as enchanting as the Pigeon’s earlier outings. Even as it walks in the footsteps of its predecessors, there’s no denying the fun to be had.
Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
ISBN: 9781454999621
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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