Gently reassuring, if a bit implausible.
A young boy learns that quiet isn’t always better.
Orson loves books and calm, tranquil places. The library used to be a great spot to sit and read, but when it reopens after renovations, everything is different. Now the librarian no longer admonishes the kids for reading aloud, laughing, and talking. So Orson takes matters into his own hands—and then rejuvenates the library when his shushing ultimately makes it sad and silent. The narrative is entertaining, though somewhat unrealistic. The library may have undergone a cosmetic renovation, but it seems unlikely that the ambience and the librarian’s attitude would change all at once—or that the other kids would so readily listen to Orson. Most young patrons have grown up with relatively bustling library spaces; the narrative feels as though it’s written from the perspective of an adult processing broader, more long-term changes in library culture. Still, it’s a sweet tale that emphasizes the value of open-mindedness and community and might make a suitable teaching tool for children struggling to accept new situations. Sisson’s art is delightfully cute and expressive, practically telling the story without the need for words. Orson is brown-skinned (one of his parents is darker-skinned than he is, while the other is pale-skinned), and the supporting cast is racially diverse and includes a child who uses a wheelchair.
Gently reassuring, if a bit implausible. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 15, 2025
ISBN: 9781662602085
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Astra Young Readers
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.
Not even the arrival of autumn can cool down this impetuous squirrel.
Although Squirrel is skeptical about Bird’s vegetable patch (“Nothing is HAPPENING!”), Bird does produce five (count them) lovely pumpkins. Squirrel picks out a favorite: “The enormous orange one.” Bird hints that Squirrel might want to help out; Squirrel sets out to fetch some work gloves and returns to find only four pumpkins. The frequently distracted Squirrel notices more gourds disappearing and leaps to the conclusion that a thief is near. And where’s Bird?! Has Squirrel’s pal also been taken? Diligently detecting, Squirrel finds clues—peck marks, footprints, and more—and produces a sketch of the suspect. As readers will guess, each clue turns out to point to one of Squirrel and Bird’s friends. Turns out Bird was delivering pumpkins to their pals while saving the big one to give to “my very best friend,” Squirrel. But why does Squirrel haul it up a tree? “So the Pumpkin Thief can’t find it, of course!” A page of pumpkin facts provides the learning component common to all titles in this series. Once more, readers will enjoy the pleasure of prediction and repetition, Squirrel’s silly persistence, Bird’s generosity, and the vibrant color illustrations, balancing orange with green.
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781464268076
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2026
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