A sweet—and bolstering—bedtime story.
Sisters face fears on their first night in separate bedrooms.
Kat is excited to have her own room, but her younger sister, Tina, feels uncertain. “What if I get scared?” asks Tina. “I may be in my new room, but I am leaving you with all of my stuffies!” Kat tells Tina. Imaginative scenes ensue as Kat explains how the various toys—from courageous Leo the Lion to creative Ollie the Octopus to magical Uni the Unicorn—will support her. Before leaving Tina, Kat gives her a calming rhyme to repeat. The toys are helpful, but as the night turns stormy, both Tina and Kat realize that there’s nothing quite as reassuring as a cuddle with a sibling. Bright, gentle illustrations in a cozy cotton-candy palette give off the feeling of a slumber party, with toys and knickknacks filling both girls’ rooms. Any child who has felt nervous about sleeping alone will be absorbed. While caregivers are not part of this tale, an adult sharing this story with a child can find practical tools, like using a comforting stuffed animal or soothing phrase. Though there’s nothing groundbreaking here, the book is an effective conversation starter about evolving sibling relationships and the struggles of learning to sleep alone. Both sisters present White. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A sweet—and bolstering—bedtime story. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-38581-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2022
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren.
In talk-show host Fallon and illustrator Ordóñez’s latest picture-book collaboration, an elderly pooch waxes rhapsodic about a life well lived.
Observing Papa sitting in his chair watching TV all day, a young pup says, “I’m starting to think…you don’t do ANYTHING.” So Papa proceeds to list his accomplishments, both big and small, mundane and profound. Some are just a result of being older and physically bigger (being tall enough to reach a high shelf and strong enough to open jars); others include winning a race and performing in a band when he was younger. Eventually, the pup realizes that while Papa may have slowed down in his old age, he’s led a full life. The most satisfying thing about Papa’s life now? Watching his grandchild take center stage: “I can say lots of thoughts / but I choose to be quiet. / I’d rather you discover things and then try it.” Fallon’s straightforward text is sweetly upbeat, though it occasionally lacks flow, forcing incongruous situations together to fit the rhyme scheme (“I cook and I mow, / and I once flew a plane. // I play newspaper puzzles because it’s good for my brain”). Featuring uncluttered, colorful backgrounds, Ordóñez’s child-friendly digital art at times takes on sepia tones, evoking the sense of looking back at old photos or memories. Though the creators tread familiar ground, the love between Papa and his little one is palpable.
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781250393975
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
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Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending.
Don’t let the Pigeon ruin his own special day!
Anyone who has ever encountered the title character in any of his books—whether his first, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (2003), or one of its many sequels—will understand that the bird’s innate self-love drives his every interaction. Little wonder, then, that he’s thrilled about his own “bird-day.” He has the hat. He has his “FANCY PLUMAGE.” And, best of all, he will get to blow out a candle “on my bird-day hot dog!” As he revels in the knowledge that this day is all for him, comeuppance is lurking. Someone has already blown out the bird-day candle—and eaten half the hot dog. It turns out that the Pigeon’s frenemy, the Duckling, has the same bird-day—as do a slew of newly hatched chicks. The Pigeon’s obligatory eight-panel freakout ensues. “What am I—invisible? I just want to be seen,” he whimpers, and when he receives some much-needed reassurance, he settles down and willingly shares his special day. While the switch from unapologetic narcissism to mature acceptance happens in the record-breaking span of two pages, the book is as enchanting as the Pigeon’s earlier outings. Even as it walks in the footsteps of its predecessors, there’s no denying the fun to be had.
Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
ISBN: 9781454999621
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
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