A pitch-purrfect portrait of cat-itude.
Mooz the cat is named for the Anishinaabemowin word for moose.
Don’t be fooled by the moniker; this feline doesn’t have all that much in common with her namesake. She’s nowhere near as towering as a moose; she’s “as small as a marten.” “Sometimes she lopes like a moose, but usually she races like a hare.” And she “can wiggle her tail like a moose, but she mostly swings it like a horse.” Mooz also clambers up trees like a raccoon, surreptitiously makes her way through the grass like a snake, and “caws like a blue jay.” After making all these comparisons, the book’s unseen narrator reflects: “Now that I think about it, she’s not much like a moose at all. She’s just Mooz!” Anishinaabe author/illustrator Pawis-Steckley’s stunning, brightly colored artwork features black-outlined images of Mooz in various action shots: perched like a toad, prowling through the grass, or gazing at readers, tail swinging. She’s both adorable and utterly self-assured no matter the situation—traits that ring true, as any cat lover knows. The simple, matter-of-fact animal comparisons are wholly accessible for young readers while still capturing this feline’s essence entirely. Text is presented in both English and Anishinaabemowin; in an appended note, Nishnaabe translator Corbiere considers the nuance of her work. In his author’s note, Pawis-Steckley describes the real-life Mooz who inspired this book. Mooz is seen briefly playing with a brown-skinned child.
A pitch-purrfect portrait of cat-itude. (Picture book. 2-4)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
ISBN: 9781779460820
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Groundwood
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable.
You think you know shapes? Animals? Blend them together, and you might see them both a little differently!
What a mischievous twist on a concept book! With wordplay and a few groan-inducing puns, Neal creates connections among animals and shapes that are both unexpected and so seemingly obvious that readers might wonder why they didn’t see them all along. Of course, a “lazy turtle” meeting an oval would create the side-splitting combo of a “SLOW-VAL.” A dramatic page turn transforms a deeply saturated, clean-lined green oval by superimposing a head and turtle shell atop, with watery blue ripples completing the illusion. Minimal backgrounds and sketchy, impressionistic detailing keep the focus right on the zany animals. Beginning with simple shapes, the geometric forms become more complicated as the book advances, taking readers from a “soaring bird” that meets a triangle to become a “FLY-ANGLE” to a “sleepy lion” nonagon “YAWN-AGON.” Its companion text, Animal Colors, delves into color theory, this time creating entirely hybrid animals, such as the “GREEN WHION” with maned head and whale’s tail made from a “blue whale and a yellow lion.” It’s a compelling way to visualize color mixing, and like Animal Shapes, it’s got verve. Who doesn’t want to shout out that a yellow kangaroo/green moose blend is a “CHARTREUSE KANGAMOOSE”?
Innovative and thoroughly enjoyable. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: March 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4998-0534-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Review Posted Online: May 13, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
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