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TWO LITTLE RED MITTENS

Name: TWO LITTLE RED MITTENS
Author: Kirin Hayashi
ISBN: 9781662516764

by Kirin Hayashi ; illustrated by Chiaki Okada ; translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2024

An unusual though soothing tale that’s as comforting as a soft pair of mittens.

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Accidentally—and permanently—separated, a pair of mittens nevertheless preserve their bond.

The mittens protect Little One’s hands while she plays. At night, they dry by a glowing woodstove as a gray cat sleeps nearby. But one day the child drops her right mitten in the snowy woods. The lost mitten is found and pragmatically repurposed by a fox, a rabbit and her children, several young mice, and a pigeon. Meanwhile, Little One and her mother search for the mitten before the mother knits an identical, satisfactory replacement. The child is oblivious to the drama of the misplaced accessory, but eventually, while Little One is walking in the forest, the left mitten recognizes its now-tattered mate, which has become a sweater for a grateful squirrel. Hayashi brings the narrative to an unconventional ending: While the mittens remain apart, each is useful in a different way, and “they [are] both very happy.” Translated from Japanese, the lengthy though gentle text is absorbing; this is a story that subtly resonates and reassures. Against the pale background, warmed by touches of umber, the saturated red of the mittens flares brightly. Their cable-knit pattern is mirrored in gray on the endpapers. Little One is often depicted facing away from readers; she is pale-faced and dark-haired.

An unusual though soothing tale that’s as comforting as a soft pair of mittens. (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024

ISBN: 9781662516764

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Amazon Crossing Kids

Review Posted Online: Dec. 14, 2024

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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MEI MEI THE BUNNY

by Laufey ; illustrated by Lauren O'Hara ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 21, 2026

A reassuring riff on embracing imperfections.

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A young rabbit frets about her upcoming violin performance in Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey’s literary debut.

Mei Mei’s dream—“to share her music with the world”—is about to come true. She’s having her very first recital, complete with an orchestra, at the H’Opera House. But the day before the concert, Mei Mei is racked with anxiety. What if she plays a bum note in front of everyone? Sure enough, the worst happens mid-performance: She hits a clinker. But by remembering her mom’s reassuring sentiments from the night before (“Feel the wind…find the notes to make it right”), Mei Mei summons the strength to soldier on, and “wrong notes become right. Dissonance becomes beautiful.” At times, it all feels more like a resilience parable than a story, and the writing can be precious (“The flutter of butterflies wakes Mei Mei from her slumber”). Still, the message is solid, bolstered by O’Hara’s pencil and watercolor illustrations, which are plush-toy soft—fitting, as even prior to this book’s publication, a stuffed Mei Mei has been for sale at Grammy winner Laufey’s website. The tale features an all-animal, all-adorable cast, and endearingly, the art betrays no hint of modern times. A standout image presents Mei Mei onstage, temporarily incapacitated by her mistake and imagining her fellow musicians and their instruments with the color-blasted menace of an expressionist painting.

A reassuring riff on embracing imperfections. (author’s note, glossary) (Picture book. 3-7)

Pub Date: April 21, 2026

ISBN: 9798217051748

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Penguin Workshop

Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS | CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

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IT'S MY BIRD-DAY!

From the Pigeon series

by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2026

Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending.

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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)