A solid new entry in a reliable, multilayered series for animal-loving youth.
In Ussi’s children’s chapter book, a lost city cat treks through Africa and meets a group of lost ostriches.
Little black housecat Casper has spent many days (and five books in her eponymous series) walking across Africa in an effort to find her way home. In this outing, she is rudely awakened, first by a competitive dung beetle, then by a group of 20 baby ostriches who can’t find their parents. The chicks’ leader, the self-effacing Felicity, asks Casper for her help in getting all 19 of her brothers to a safe haven with their cousins. The cat agrees and the group sets off, but not without turmoil: Poisonous red-headed centipedes almost sting Casper, and she is only spared by the timely intercession of the warthog Wigbert. Wigbert helps guide the group to the ostriches’ family, and Casper chooses to spend extra time with them. Casper isn’t the only interested feline—a cheetah emerges to stalk the flock. Alongside Mzee the tortoise, Casper and company must gather their courage and defend themselves against this common enemy. This early chapter book about self-confidence and cooperation will entice young readers interested in wildlife, whether they’ve read the previous titles in the series or not. The lesson about rejecting labels is cleverly and naturally woven together with animal facts, such as when Felicity worries that she isn’t intelligent because ostriches have small brains. (“‘You have to be pretty smart to know when to ask for help,’ Casper said. ‘It’s not the size of the brain, it’s how you use it.’”) Several pages of informative text and photos are included in the aftermatter, which covers every creature mentioned in the story, no matter how big or small their role. Bose’s bright, doe-eyed illustrations are cute without sacrificing too much realism.
A solid new entry in a reliable, multilayered series for animal-loving youth.Pub Date: March 15, 2026
ISBN: 9781923356269
Page Count: 84
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Feb. 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for...
A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility.
Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. When Gavin’s desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. “After all, it isn’t his fault that Danielle’s snow globe got broken. Sure, he shouldn’t have been in her room—but then, she shouldn’t be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. Anybody would be tempted. Anybody!” opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle’s yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English (Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener.
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Dec. 17, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-547-97044-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Trisha is ready to start at a new school, where no one will know she has dyslexia. At first, she is heartbroken to be in Miss Peterson’s special-ed class, aka, “the junkyard.” But Miss Peterson treats the children as anything but junk, showing them that everyone has a unique talent. Polacco’s trademark style is fully present here; her sensitively drawn alter ego shines with depth of feeling. When bullying occurs, Miss Peterson proves her students are worthwhile by planning a junkyard field trip, where they find valuable objects to be used in exciting ways. Trisha’s group repairs a plane, and the class buys an engine for it. Then a beloved class member dies, and the children must find a way to honor him. While the plot meanders somewhat, the characters are appealing, believable and provide a fine portrayal of a truly special class. Children will be drawn in by the story’s warmth and gentle humor and will leave with a spark of inspiration, an appreciation of individual differences and a firm anti-bullying message, all underscored by the author’s note that concludes the book. (Picture book. 7-10)
Pub Date: July 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-399-25078-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2010
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