The sights and sounds of Japan as explored by two sweet, culturally curious dogs.
Dogs Charlie and Gigi reflect on the wonders of their new home in Tokyo.
Charlie and Gigi moved to Japan when they were “young and small,” at a time when the city’s skyscrapers felt equal parts overwhelming and awe-inspiring. But over time, the pups grew to embrace Tokyo’s attractions, holidays, customs, clothing, and traditions. By venturing outside their comfort zones with open hearts and minds, they eventually discover an appreciation for a new culture and come to see Tokyo as a second home. Now they wear kimonos, visit shrines, explore bustling shopping districts, and experience Japan’s changing seasons—from spring’s sakura blossoms to winter’s blankets of snow. Grabscheid has crafted an endearing story that balances emotional warmth with educational tidbits. The book introduces young readers to notable Tokyo landmarks, including Shibuya Crossing, Mount Fuji, and Tokyo Tower, while colorful illustrations by TeriArt Design bring Japan’s most populated city vividly to life. Some backgrounds unfortunately show signs of supplemental AI use, with occasional warped or illogical details. Thankfully, Charlie and Gigi themselves appear consistently well illustrated, preserving the charm of the story’s main characters. Although the book offers only a brief introduction to Japanese culture, it conveys a valuable message about embracing new experiences and finding belonging in unfamiliar places. Young readers may come away inspired to explore the world with curiosity and courage.
The sights and sounds of Japan as explored by two sweet, culturally curious dogs.Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2026
ISBN: 9798995229674
Page Count: 36
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Sept. 3, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.
Not even the arrival of autumn can cool down this impetuous squirrel.
Although Squirrel is skeptical about Bird’s vegetable patch (“Nothing is HAPPENING!”), Bird does produce five (count them) lovely pumpkins. Squirrel picks out a favorite: “The enormous orange one.” Bird hints that Squirrel might want to help out; Squirrel sets out to fetch some work gloves and returns to find only four pumpkins. The frequently distracted Squirrel notices more gourds disappearing and leaps to the conclusion that a thief is near. And where’s Bird?! Has Squirrel’s pal also been taken? Diligently detecting, Squirrel finds clues—peck marks, footprints, and more—and produces a sketch of the suspect. As readers will guess, each clue turns out to point to one of Squirrel and Bird’s friends. Turns out Bird was delivering pumpkins to their pals while saving the big one to give to “my very best friend,” Squirrel. But why does Squirrel haul it up a tree? “So the Pumpkin Thief can’t find it, of course!” A page of pumpkin facts provides the learning component common to all titles in this series. Once more, readers will enjoy the pleasure of prediction and repetition, Squirrel’s silly persistence, Bird’s generosity, and the vibrant color illustrations, balancing orange with green.
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781464268076
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2026
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among
Pete, the cat who couldn’t care less, celebrates Christmas with his inimitable lassitude.
If it weren’t part of the title and repeated on every other page, readers unfamiliar with Pete’s shtick might have a hard time arriving at “groovy” to describe his Christmas celebration, as the expressionless cat displays not a hint of groove in Dean’s now-trademark illustrations. Nor does Pete have a great sense of scansion: “On the first day of Christmas, / Pete gave to me… / A road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” The cat is shown at the wheel of a yellow microbus strung with garland and lights and with a star-topped tree tied to its roof. On the second day of Christmas Pete gives “me” (here depicted as a gray squirrel who gets on the bus) “2 fuzzy gloves, and a road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” On the third day, he gives “me” (now a white cat who joins Pete and the squirrel) “3 yummy cupcakes,” etc. The “me” mentioned in the lyrics changes from day to day and gift to gift, with “4 far-out surfboards” (a frog), “5 onion rings” (crocodile), and “6 skateboards rolling” (a yellow bird that shares its skateboards with the white cat, the squirrel, the frog, and the crocodile while Pete drives on). Gifts and animals pile on until the microbus finally arrives at the seaside and readers are told yet again that it’s all “GROOVY!”
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among . (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-267527-9
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
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