An entertaining and humorous story about the power of creative thinking.
An aspiring baker learns to make the best of his mistakes.
This week in Naveen’s Bakers Makers Lab, the class will be making creative cakes. Naveen can’t wait to whip up his dream concoction: a “twelve-layer space-unicorn cake” capable of breathing fire! Although he’s barely baked before, Naveen has learned a lot from cooking shows, looking at pictures of his favorite pastries, and, of course, sampling plenty of sweet treats. So when his teacher gives the class the recipe, he decides that he’s experienced enough to rely on his instincts. Unfortunately, his first attempt is a sloppy, terrible-tasting flop. The next day, he decides to follow the class recipe. Naveen’s second attempt seems like an improvement until he tries to decorate it, and everything falls apart again. Luckily, with a little creativity and a lot of persistence, Naveen turns his cake into something—or, more accurately, a collection of somethings—that is totally different from what he originally planned. The surprising results are nothing short of scrumptious. With witty, lively text and vibrant colors, Smith tells a story that will reassure young readers worried about trying new things. The book’s message isn’t groundbreaking, but its approach is fresh and funny. Naveen is cued as South Asian.
An entertaining and humorous story about the power of creative thinking. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Jan. 16, 2024
ISBN: 9780063241374
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Oct. 7, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2023
A sweet, springtime-themed reworking of a beloved tale.
The classic picture book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (1989) gets a makeover for Easter as the letters of the alphabet locate and decorate eggs.
The mission is simple: “Chicka chicka peek peek. / Everybody seek seek! / Find all the eggs / in the pretty pink tree.” The letters are making their way up the flowering tree in search of the hidden eggs when a “SNEEZE!” scatters everyone and the eggs fall and crack. Luckily, a bunny hops by with a haul of new ones, which the letters then paint and bedazzle, eventually sharing the newly decorated eggs with a group of bunnies. This picture book is a successfully Easter-fied version of the original: The letters go up; the letters fall down. Truly, though, that’s all the preschool crowd needs. Chung’s illustrations are simple and familiar, a direct echo of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. The letters appear in colorful, bold, block form. The book has few added details, just focal images like the tree and its pink flowers, the colorful eggs, tufts of grass, and some friendly rabbits. The alphabet appears in order (both upper- and lowercase letters) at the book’s open and close. The rhyming text follows the iconic cadence of the source material, making for a worthy read-aloud that will keep little hands turning pages.
A sweet, springtime-themed reworking of a beloved tale. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
ISBN: 9781665990646
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2025
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A bit predictable but pleasantly illustrated.
Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault’s classic alphabet book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (1989) gets the Halloween treatment.
Chung follows the original formula to the letter. In alphabetical order, each letter climbs to the top of a tree. They are knocked back to the ground in a jumble before climbing up in sequence again. In homage to the spooky holiday theme, they scale a “creaky old tree,” and a ghostly jump scare causes the pileup. The chunky, colorful art is instantly recognizable. The charmingly costumed letters (“H swings a tail. / I wears a patch. J and K don / bows that don’t match”) are set against a dark backdrop, framed by pages with orange or purple borders. The spreads feature spiderwebs and jack-o’-lanterns. The familiar rhyme cadence is marred by the occasional clunky or awkward phrase; in particular, the adapted refrain of “Chicka chicka tricka treat” offers tongue-twisting fun, but it’s repeatedly followed by the disappointing half-rhyme “Everybody sneaka sneak.” Even this odd construction feels shoehorned into place, since “sneaking” makes little sense when every character in the book is climbing together. The final line of the book ends on a more satisfying note, with “Everybody—time to eat!”
A bit predictable but pleasantly illustrated. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: July 15, 2025
ISBN: 9781665954785
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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