A cozy illustrated tale about looking beyond our biases.
Frieda the fly is understandably wary when she meets Beanie the spider in Ebert’s picture book.
At first, Frieda is appalled when Beanie the spider asks to be friends. After all, spiders make webs to catch flies like her! Frieda harshly declines Beanie’s invitation, suspicious of his true motives. Undeterred, Beanie patiently challenges her assumptions. He is a peaceful spider, he explains, and a vegetarian at that. Although insects occasionally get caught in his web, he always sets them free. Still, Frieda remains skeptical until Beanie reveals that he really uses his web to collect dewdrops for watering his garden. As Beanie shows off his many plants, Frieda finally lets herself relax, thoroughly impressed by Beanie’s eight multitasking legs, all watering, tilling, and snipping fruits and vegetables. Soon Frieda is joining Beanie and his other peaceful animal friends, including raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, and birds, for a joyful lunch. With its cozy watercolor illustrations and easy-to-follow premise, this short picture book offers a lesson about questioning biases and allowing others to express who they are. Although Frieda’s change of heart may seem sudden, the simplicity also makes the message accessible for young readers. The story encourages children to approach the unfamiliar with kindness and openness instead of assumptions, and it teaches them that an unexpected friendship may be waiting just beyond a first impression.
A cozy illustrated tale about looking beyond our biases.Pub Date: today
ISBN: 978-1951517007
Page Count: 42
Publisher: Bubbling Spring Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 21, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Empowerment to children to be the change they wish to see in the world.
Be a “somebody” who makes a difference!
A Black child witnesses various transgressions over the course of a day. Noticing trash on the walk to the bus stop, the young narrator thinks, “Somebody should do something about that.” Two students push their way ahead of everyone else in order to get good seats on the school bus, prompting the child to muse, “Somebody should speak up about that.” Throughout the day, the child notices examples of bullying and unfairness. These seemingly minor infractions start mounting. Finally, when the protagonist’s teacher tells the students that it’s snack time, the narrator notices that some students don’t have anything to eat. Instead of wishing for a “somebody,” the perceptive pupil realizes, “I am Somebody” and shares food with the others. The epiphany doesn’t stop there. When the narrator arrives home and notices there are toys everywhere but Mom is on a work call, the child responds to Mom’s request for help by cleaning up the mess. Accompanied by simple yet expressive illustrations, this is a loving and much-needed story that encourages kids to make a difference; pair it with Joshunda Sanders’ I Can Write the World (2019), illustrated by Charly Palmer. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Empowerment to children to be the change they wish to see in the world. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 27, 2023
ISBN: 9780762480517
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2023
Fun times, fond friends, and a festive farmyard setting—little ones will be charmed.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Toad and Little Blue Truck get ready for a hayride.
After the titular vehicle is loaded with hay, Toad is nowhere to be found. “Beep! Beep! Beep! Where are you, Toad?” asks Little Blue Truck. All the barnyard animals look for him. Sheep searches the meadow. Goose and Duck check the pond. Others pitch in, too, but Toad seems to have disappeared…until Hen hears snoring coming from the pile of hay in the back of Little Blue Truck. Although the text’s scansion is imperfect in places (adults may want to pre-read to ensure a smooth read-aloud), the bouncy meter and rhyming text nevertheless capture the energy of the search and the farmyard community’s concern for Toad’s safety, making this a solid storytime choice. Eye-catching illustrations with rich, fully saturated colors balance the right level of detail while still highlighting the animal that is the focus of each verse. By introducing one farm animal at a time, Schertle also helps the youngest readers begin to identify barnyard animals by name and understand their unique farm homes. Traditional animal sounds are part of the text, and listeners will add them to their vocabulary. It all ends with the promised hayride, bringing the tale to a joyous ending.
Fun times, fond friends, and a festive farmyard setting—little ones will be charmed. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2026
ISBN: 9780063436121
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
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