A perfectly calibrated introduction to the concept of economic differences.
Child-friendly lessons in interdependence.
The pale-skinned, dark-haired young narrator attends a diverse school with a communal ethos. A “mitten tree” makes these accessories available for those in need, though the protagonist sticks with a too-small blue pair (they “make the best snowballs”), and the students are involved with a food drive. The youngster’s class’s goal is to place one can on each of the 100 squares on a numbered carpet. The child contributes a favorite can of noodles, despite Mom’s warning that she might not be able to replace it. That can is number 100; everyone cheers, and the teacher affixes a snowflake sticker. Days later, Mom comes home with a pair of bigger red mittens from the tree and a can of the noodles, bearing that snowflake sticker. “Are we the people in need?” the narrator asks. Mom gently explains that they get help when they need it and give when they have something extra. Later, the child puts the beloved blue mittens on the donation tree, with a personal note. This simple yet brilliant explanation of mutual aid is illustrated in confident fine lines and soft but bright color against minimalist backgrounds. The text is finely tuned to a child’s understanding, avoiding condescension or the implication that young people should feel shame at requiring assistance (or superiority at having the privilege to give); the focus is on considering what the recipient needs—and what we can give.
A perfectly calibrated introduction to the concept of economic differences. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9781773067346
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Groundwood
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...
Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.
The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: June 21, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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