Goofy and good-hearted, a simple tale playfully told.
A pun-slinging creepy-crawly reflects after making a misstep.
Wiggler, a wormlike character with a curious superfluity of limbs, wobbles through the world telling jokes to all and sundry—possumish librarian Peter, an anthropomorphic lemon lounging in the park, a tiny red-and-black robot named Roro tinkering in the Junk and Stuff workshop. When Wiggler’s joking distracts Roro, the robot is accidentally electrified and lashes out at Wiggler. Worried that Roro didn’t think the joke was funny, Wiggler retreats to a nearby bench to puzzle out what went wrong. Thought bubbles above Wiggler’s head visually revisit the action as our protagonist reexamines the experience for clues to Roro’s anger. Realizing that Roro was upset at being distracted, Wiggler returns to the shop, in a moment of seriousness, to make amends. Roro graciously accepts the apology and lightens the mood with a few jokes. Vandorn clearly but never heavy-handedly communicates themes of making mistakes and repairing relationships, in large part due to the inviting contours of Wiggler’s world—a brightly colored little town buzzing with a whimsical cast of imaginary creatures. Snappy, accessible dialogue will further encourage hesitant readers to have a bit of fun while taking in the story, maybe even coming away with a few jokes of their own to tell.
Goofy and good-hearted, a simple tale playfully told. (Graphic fiction. 4-8)Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
ISBN: 9780823459827
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2025
Fast and furious action guaranteed to keep new readers laughing and turning pages.
Never underestimate the chaotic fun that magic and an angry bouncing ball can create.
When Frog goes to the library, he borrows a book on magic. He then heads to a nearby park to read up on the skills necessary to becoming “a great magician.” Suddenly, a deflated yellow ball lands with a “Thud!” at his feet. Although he flexes his new magician muscles, Frog’s spells fall as flat as the ball. But when Frog shouts “Phooey!” and kicks the ball away, it inflates to become a big, angry ball. The ball begins to chase Frog, so he seeks shelter in the library—and Frog and ball turn the library’s usual calm into chaos. The cartoon chase crescendos. The ball bounces into the middle of a game of chess, interrupts a puppet show, and crashes into walls and bookcases. Staying just one bounce ahead, Frog runs, hides, grabs a ride on a book cart, and scatters books and papers as he slides across the library furniture before an alligator patron catches the ball and kicks it out the library door. But that’s not the end of the ball….Caple’s tidy panels and pastel-hued cartoons make a surprisingly effective setting for the slapstick, which should have young readers giggling. Simple sentences—often just subject and verb—with lots of repetition propel the action. Frog’s nonsense-word spells (“Poof Wiffle, Bop Bip!”) are both funny and excellent practice in phonetics. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Fast and furious action guaranteed to keep new readers laughing and turning pages. (Graphic early reader. 5-7)Pub Date: Aug. 10, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-8234-4341-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: June 1, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021
Will draw more eyes than ever to the antics of this tuberous twosome.
Can Rot Poe Tater scare the snot out of Snot, his irritating big brother? Maybe with help from friends!
Tired of being the victim of his sib’s mischievous pranks, Rot, an anthropomorphic potato, is determined to turn the tables. Unfortunately, Snot seems to have eyes in the back of his head (no surprise, considering that he’s a potato), and even with a new pair of sneakers, Rot just can’t get the drop on him. Where can Rot learn to be even sneakier? Spy school, of course! Though Rot makes a hash out of lessons in keeping secrets and other spy skills, he finds classmates with complementary talents willing to help dish up a plan clever enough to startle the smirking older spud into a spectacularly gooey sneeze. And rather than mashing down his booger-blasted little bro, Snot gives him grudging props. Rot and pals rush to celebrate over a plate of only slightly slimed cupcakes (yum!), and the tale closes with a roguish final twist. The art, peeled down to the essentials and made with a mix of earth-toned paints, digital effects, and potato prints, adds to the episode’s air of mildly decayed charm.
Will draw more eyes than ever to the antics of this tuberous twosome. (nature facts, pranking guidelines, drawing lesson) (Graphic fiction. 6-8)Pub Date: Oct. 28, 2025
ISBN: 9781665964302
Page Count: 88
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2025
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