More mellow holiday antics from the cats who just wanna have fun.
The Moontime Cats return, this time with an imposter in their ranks.
Nocturnal feline besties Carl, Biscuit, Peewee, and Mittens, who live to make (mild-mannered) mischief, know that “tonight is special. The neighborhood is spookier than usual.” Going unsaid: It’s Halloween! Carl, Biscuit, and Peewee are costumed for the occasion and declare Mittens’ turtle getup “incredible! Very realistic. Well done, Mittens!” But that isn’t Mittens in disguise: It’s a real turtle! And the turtle-costumed real Mittens? She’s on her own on the trick-or-treating scene, looking for her friends (“Meow?”). Meanwhile, the other cats and Mittens’ doppelgänger frolic in a graveyard, flee from a barking, chained-up dog, and sing a “spooky song” in a tree. Fortunately, the fake Mittens’ fall from the tree is broken by the real Mittens, and the friendship circle opens to let in one more. This series’ small dramas are winningly reminiscent of the experiences of human toddlers, who, like the Moontime Cats, skate from one mini-tempest to the next. Working in colored pencil and watercolor, Mylie once more provides shimmery hues on black backgrounds—a look that’s tailor-made for a Halloween romp. The streets that the cats walk are aglow with lights, leaves, and wide-open eyes likely to match beguiled young readers’ own.
More mellow holiday antics from the cats who just wanna have fun. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: July 7, 2026
ISBN: 9781536233742
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: tomorrow
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
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BOOK REVIEW
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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
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