There’s not much substance or cohesion here, but it may work to corral—briefly—little ones who won’t stop running around.
A cat is excruciatingly bored.
Doodle Cat, drawn as a red, cat-shaped silhouette with frantic eyes and sharp whiskers its only markings, sits on a blank white page. “I AM BORED,” says Doodle Cat. The next two pages have plain, matte-black backgrounds, and Doodle Cat stands (upright like a human) in a yellow spotlight. “EXCUSE ME EVERYONE I AM BORED! / HALLO?” This is no low-energy boredom; it’s desperate, bug-eyed, shrieking boredom. Suddenly, a crayon appears on the floor. Doodle Cat squints in suspicion, tries to eat soup with it, dances with it, and hears the crayon say, “I’m for doodling.” Aha! Doodle Cat, ever self-focused, nabs credit for that revelation (though if the concept of doodling is so new, why did the character self-identify as “Doodle Cat” all along?) and has a brain explosion that Farrell illustrates in a full-bleed spread of chunky psychedelic designs. The arc is now about drawing (it’s called doodling, but much of it is more deliberate than that). The breathless pace and forced brashness—two separate, explicitly bum-focused pages (“Here’s my bum”) plus Doodle Cat “surfing through time and space on a wave of farts with Wizard Susan,” an unexplained White human who never appears before or after—make every page seem like a new bid for readers’ attention.
There’s not much substance or cohesion here, but it may work to corral—briefly—little ones who won’t stop running around. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Nov. 3, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-950354-34-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scribble
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2020
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
A powerful affirmation for all dads—the good, the flawed, and those doing the best they can.
Dedicating his latest to “caregivers who give what they never got,” Caldecott Honor winner Robinson explores complicated feelings around fatherhood.
From the outset, the book appears to be a standard-issue Father’s Day offering, pairing brief, loving sentiments with images of animals. But it soon becomes clear that Robinson has crafted something much more complex. A frog with tadpoles nestled atop his back (“Dad is here”) is followed by an illustration of an owl leaving the nest (“Dad had to go away”). More contrasts are presented: a seahorse keeping his offspring safe in his pouch (“Dad holds on tight”), two shark pups swimming away from their frenzied-looking patriarch (“Dad need lots of space”). “Dad lets you down and makes mistakes” (a porcupine accidentally jabs his little one), but “Dad picks you up and makes you feel safe” (a lion snuggles his cub). And the human fathers we meet next—diverse in skin tone and ability—are equally multifaceted. Robinson outdoes himself, his bold and richly textured paint and collage artwork popping against the background. His artwork is rife with subtleties for careful readers—for instance, the look of uncertainty in the eyes of the gorilla father described as “strong.” For all its simplicity, this colorful book is laden with meaning, depicting fathers as vulnerable, imperfect, gentle, and empathetic—in a word, deeply human.
A powerful affirmation for all dads—the good, the flawed, and those doing the best they can. (more information on the animals presented) (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 12, 2026
ISBN: 9781250397041
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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