Brave—and not so brave—hikers will giggle at this class’s brush with peril.
Signs say a Grizzled Grist hides in the woods. Should Ms. Whisk and her class be afraid?
Optimistically, they forge ahead on the Dismal Hills hiking trail anyway. Ms. Whisk takes notes as her students, except for Liam, boast of great outdoor skills, such as cooking, climbing, and taming wild beasts. Liam’s talent is hiding. The other students scoff, but Liam puts his stealth to good use; as he hides behind rocks, he notices a sign about the Grizzled Grist and observes other clues. But his warnings are ignored as the clueless and frazzled Ms. Whisk races from one wilderness crisis to another. Everyone remains unscathed and unfazed—until they meet a bear. Liam distracts the creature, but soon after, Ms. Whisk and the class come face to face with a toothy, hairy beast. They are doomed to be ingredients in the Grizzled Grist’s Cream of Children Soup unless Liam can save them. Detailed illustrations in soft textures and muted but eye-catching hues set against a white background create plenty of fun opportunities to find Liam and see what only he notices. Using a mix of rhyming couplets (with dialogue from Liam in speech bubbles) and longer stanzas as well as creative line breaks, MacIver creates a bouncy read-aloud that will tickle children and adults alike. Ms. Whisk is light-skinned, Liam is brown-skinned, and the class is diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Brave—and not so brave—hikers will giggle at this class’s brush with peril. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-77657-415-5
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Gecko Press
Review Posted Online: June 7, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2022
A satisfyingly cozy winter holiday tale.
The protagonist of The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt (2020) enjoys a “boo-tiful” holiday.
The titular spirit—comprised of a patterned quilt rather than a plain white sheet like his peers—loves drifting outside in the cold. His heavier fabrics may slow him down the rest of the year, but in winter they keep him warm enough to enjoy the outdoors while his friends remain inside. One December evening, while visiting the human neighborhood, he notices people singing and putting up twinkling lights (amid the Christmas decorations, one window features a menorah). The little ghost quilt is happy for himself but sad that his pals aren’t witnessing all this, too. The sight of a holiday tree inspires him: He’ll bring a tree to his friends! A branch that blows off during a snowstorm will do nicely. For ornaments, he uses odds and ends from the attic of his house. And when his friends arrive at his home that night, everyone decorates the tree together. The moon, peeping through the window and reflecting off a mirror from the attic, provides the glorious pièce de résistance: The make-believe tree glows brilliantly. This quietly lovely holiday tale underscores the true meaning of the holidays: friendship and togetherness. The illustrations rely on a muted palette with spots of vivid colors; like a quilt, they’re soft and delicate. Human characters vary in skin tone.
A satisfyingly cozy winter holiday tale. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2025
ISBN: 9781774885376
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
Good fun for all little ninjas and their parents.
After swinging out from the jungle after a long day of ninja-ing, Will makes his way home just in time for a bath. But as all ninjas know, danger lurks around every corner.
Even naughty ninjas get hungry, but Dad says, “Pee-yew,” and insists his little ninja get clean before going near a morsel. Ever the Naughty Ninja, Will follows his dad into the bathroom and immediately spies danger: Poisonous flies that have followed him from the jungle! As any parent would, his dad begs him not to say, “Ninja to the rescue,” because we all know what comes after a catchphrase…chaos! Through each increasingly rough rescue, Dad finds himself more and more defeated in his quest to complete bathtime, but ultimately he starts to find the infectious joy that only the ridiculousness of children can bring out in an adult. The art is bright and finds some nifty ninja perspectives that use the space well. It also places an interracial family at its center: Dad has brown skin and dark, puffy hair, and Mom is a white redhead; when out of his ninja cowl, Will looks like a slightly lighter-skinned version of his father. Kids will laugh at everything the dad is put through, and parents will knowingly nod, because we have all had nights with little ninjas soaking the bathroom floor. The book starts out a little text heavy but finds its groove quickly, reading smoothly going forward. Lots of action means it’s best not to save this one for bedtime.
Good fun for all little ninjas and their parents. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5420-9433-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Two Lions
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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