Entertaining, silly, and stylish fun.
A bevy of fashionable beasts show off their footwear.
Sporting chic looks and walking upright, the animals are introduced with brief, singsong verses describing the shoes they most enjoy wearing. The gators sport waders—a logical choice, given their propensity for “splishing and splashing around”—while the crocs prefer stilettos, the elegant cats mince about in ballet flats, the practical elephants switch between espadrilles and sneakers, and the centipedes rock “sandals galore!” Some of the shoes might be unfamiliar to young readers, like the donkeys’ punny choice of mules (Maconie helpfully supplies a definition). The titular question is repeated often, and the purple hippo is periodically seen shopping and making undisclosed selections. At last, Hippo welcomes the other animals, in all their finery, into her home, where they gaze upon a huge, varied collection of shoes that Imelda Marcos would envy—this hippo can’t be limited to just one style. Braun’s bright, busy cartoons are rife with details for youngsters to pore over. The characters move about vibrant, bustling streets, passing varied shops with animal proprietors wearing their own favored shoes. Observant readers will notice a tiny, apparently shoeless mouse zipping about town on a minuscule bike, waving a cheese-shaped balloon.
Entertaining, silly, and stylish fun. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 5, 2025
ISBN: 9780593692776
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
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BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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