Invites universal participatory tickling—it’s hard to resist joining in.
A mouse wants to join the Tickle Squad but first must prove that its skills are up to snuff.
As two lab-coated rodents carefully look on (this is serious, scientific observation, after all), one tiny mouse tickles all kinds of creatures hoping to trigger a guffaw. Tickling a giraffe is easy; just run up and down those long legs. Tickling a bear requires a bit more caution, but it’s fun when they start to wriggle and giggle. Tickling an octopus, however, can be quite tricky, as the tickler-in-training wonders: “An octopus loves to be tickled for sure, / but which was the arm that I tickled before?” Written in jumpy verse with rhymes that sometimes carry over into the speech-bubble comments of the scientists, the rhythm itself is ticklish and fun. Comically large, round ears make the tiny mice easy to spot, and various bodily functions triggered by the tickling are sure to elicit giggles. Alas, some of the animals’ laughing expressions can be difficult to interpret: scrunched eyes and wide mouths with sharp teeth don’t always look very jolly.
Invites universal participatory tickling—it’s hard to resist joining in. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5124-8126-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Andersen Press USA
Review Posted Online: June 20, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
Whimsical and dreamy, certain to delight dog lovers with its heart and humor.
Debut picture-book author Kim ruminates on the various ways pups settle in for a snooze.
Drawing readers’ attention to a chalkboard diagram of “A Study of Sleepy Dogs,” an unseen narrator tells us to “pay close attention, as there are quite a few details to observe.” Accompanying tongue-in-cheek text that imitates a classroom lecture, playful illustrations portray dogs humorously engaging in a series of rituals in preparation for a siesta. First, dogs need to find the perfect spot: “It can be hard. It can be squishy. Sometimes it’s in-between.” The soft-hued pastel, colored pencil, and gouache art has a pleasing crayonlike texture, while small vignettes throughout depict all manner of antics as dogs settle down. Take, for example, the sleeping positions. From “The Turtle” (sleeping on one’s belly, with paws crookedly splayed) to “The Burrito” (slumbering rolled in a blanket), the possibilities are endless. Endpapers complement the theme with wide-awake dogs cavorting while releasing energy at the beginning and, at the conclusion, dozing peacefully. But then Kim asks the big question: “What do they dream about?” That remains a mystery, but images of canines napping with dream bubbles offers an opportunity for viewers to consider the possibilities and perhaps identify their own dream scenarios.
Whimsical and dreamy, certain to delight dog lovers with its heart and humor. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 21, 2026
ISBN: 9780316580281
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2026
PROFILES
PERSPECTIVES
May try the patience of antsy little ones, though vehicle fans will be delighted.
A cast of critters as impatient as they are colorful yearn for frozen treats.
In a neighborhood occupied by sweet-toothed beasties, the ice cream truck reigns supreme, but a lengthy roster of vehicles must first pass through this animal kingdom—a dump truck, mail truck, and fire truck, to name just a few. Trucks putter through town to onlookers’ delight and disappointment, and spectators bid each one farewell and wish it good luck—all the while dreaming of the delectable goodies to come. Eagle-eyed readers will know when to expect the ice cream truck’s advent, cleverly foreshadowed in the book’s opening spread. While Runyan’s work is pleasing in its simplicity, with characters rendered in bright watercolors and their homes and greenery depicted in appealing collages, Fairbank’s story drags on a shade too long. Though transportation-loving tots will eagerly exclaim over the various vehicles, others will grow frustrated waiting for the titular truck to arrive. Those seeking to incorporate the book into a storytime may want to practice reading this one aloud first, as some of the verses feel a bit clunky.
May try the patience of antsy little ones, though vehicle fans will be delighted. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: April 29, 2025
ISBN: 9780062842114
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
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