A thoughtful storytime pick to get little ones asking big questions.
Two children learn lessons in acceptance as they peer across a book’s gutter.
The youngsters, both light-skinned with short brown hair, approach a tall hedge dividing the open white space of the page. One of them, wearing a solid-colored shirt, says to the other, clad in a striped shirt, “You really have to wonder what they are thinking.” But who are “they”? An amorphous sphere of green, blue, and white forms floats on the other side of the hedge, apparently invisible to the protagonists, as the first child explains, “Them. The other people.” Notions of us vs. them break down as the more open-minded youngster poses questions that suggest that the two children might have more in common with the unseen people than they realize. Meanwhile, the position of the hedge, dividing the spread in half, deftly reinforces the sense of opposition and separation that undergird the story’s thematic structure. As the kids establish that the “others” likely have thoughts, feelings, and connections, figures in the once-shapeless blob become fully human. Finally, the child in stripes rebels against the hedge’s physical divide and climbs over to the other side, an act that prompts debate, giving way to some profound conclusions: “Maybe there’s just us? And maybe we are all here together.” Probing text, made up entirely of dialogue, pairs cleverly designed layouts for a compelling tale that suggests that it’s ignorance that truly divides us—and knowledge that unites us.
A thoughtful storytime pick to get little ones asking big questions. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
ISBN: 9780593839676
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts.
In this latest slice in the Food Group series, Humble Pie learns to stand up to a busy friend who’s taking advantage of his pal’s hard work on the sidelines.
Jake the Cake and Humble Pie are good friends. Where Pie is content to toil in the background, Jake happily shines in the spotlight. Alert readers will notice that Pie’s always right there, too, getting A-pluses and skiing expertly just behind—while also doing the support work that keeps every school and social project humming. “Fact: Nobody notices pie when there’s cake nearby!” When the two friends pair up for a science project, things begin well. But when the overcommitted Jake makes excuse after excuse, showing up late or not at all, a panicked Pie realizes that they won’t finish in time. When Jake finally shows up on the night before the project’s due, Pie courageously confronts him. “And for once, I wasn’t going to sugarcoat it.” The friends talk it out and collaborate through the night for the project’s successful presentation in class the next day. John and Oswald’s winning recipe—plentiful puns and delightful visual jokes—has yielded another treat here. The narration does skew didactic as it wraps up: “There’s nothing wrong with having a tough conversation, asking for help, or making sure you’re being treated fairly.” But it’s all good fun, in service of some gentle lessons about social-emotional development.
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9780063469730
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
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A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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