Young naturalists will be utterly absorbed by the tiny delights here.
The characters introduced in The Hidden World of Gnomes (2023) embrace a new addition, who makes an exciting self-discovery.
A mushroom circle forms, and Grolly Maru (who uses they/them pronouns) emerges through the parted moss. The gnomes of the Pocket, a warm and welcoming bunch, take it upon themselves to teach the newcomer about their love of their natural world and to explain their individual jobs. Cob Tiggy shows Grolly Maru some of his favorite hats, from a raspberry to a dandelion puff. Merry Pip schools Grolly Maru in animal sounds and “animal quiets.” When Grolly Maru’s belly rumbles, they join Bonnie Plum in baking a fruit treat and later get a lesson in “gnome numbers” from Puckle Swift. The gnomes stop by Mrs. Spider’s place as the arachnid takes a page out of E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web and spins an inspiring message: “Life is as mysterious as ever!” A gnome named Minoletta delivers a day’s-end paean to the oneness of the world. And finally, as the new inductee stands up to share their thoughts, they find themselves waxing rhapsodic about the moon—turns out Grolly Maru is a poet! Beginning readers might trip over the lengthier passages, but for the most part, this is another sweet immersion in a whimsical world populated by endearing residents who vary in skin tone. Soloy’s lovely, intricate vignettes, rendered in muted watercolors, brim with warmth.
Young naturalists will be utterly absorbed by the tiny delights here. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781774887202
Page Count: 72
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A wandering effort, happy but pointless.
The perfect book for kids who love dragons and mild tacos.
Rubin’s story starts with an incantatory edge: “Hey, kid! Did you know that dragons love tacos? They love beef tacos and chicken tacos. They love really big gigantic tacos and tiny little baby tacos as well.” The playing field is set: dragons, tacos. As a pairing, they are fairly silly, and when the kicker comes in—that dragons hate spicy salsa, which ignites their inner fireworks—the silliness is sillier still. Second nature, after all, is for dragons to blow flames out their noses. So when the kid throws a taco party for the dragons, it seems a weak device that the clearly labeled “totally mild” salsa comes with spicy jalapenos in the fine print, prompting the dragons to burn down the house, resulting in a barn-raising at which more tacos are served. Harmless, but if there is a parable hidden in the dragon-taco tale, it is hidden in the unlit deep, and as a measure of lunacy, bridled or unbridled, it doesn’t make the leap into the outer reaches of imagination. Salmieri’s artwork is fitting, with a crabbed, ethereal line work reminiscent of Peter Sís, but the story does not offer it enough range.
A wandering effort, happy but pointless. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: June 14, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3680-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: March 27, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
