Fascinating shark information in a muddled package.
A mother and her shark-enthusiast son don’t quite see eye to eye.
Young, white, redheaded Stevie wants nothing more than to act like a shark, especially if it annoys his mother. When his mother (also white) asks him to stop inhaling his pancakes at breakfast, Stevie pauses only to reply that “bull sharks tear apart food with their teeth. All fifty rows of them!” When she begs him to sit still, Stevie merely quips that whale sharks die if they stop moving. Throughout the entire day, Stevie’s mom’s earnest pleas to her son for good (or just human) behavior are met with fact after fact about sharks. But when the day comes to an end and Stevie settles down with a final sleepy whisper that he loves sharks, his mom quietly admits that she loves them too. Despite Montatore’s illustrations subsumed in energy that aligns with Stevie’s enthusiasm, the almost manic spreads seem to reflect his mother’s frenzied, put-upon perspective, making the narrative more hers than Stevie’s. Without any kind of transition from the narrative’s conclusion, the remainder of the book showcases an epilogue of several more shark facts, and though each compares to a recognizable piece of kid life (“no early bedtime for them!”; “hide-and-seek champions!”), the two parts of the book feel unintegrated and spliced together.
Fascinating shark information in a muddled package. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 6, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5107-0884-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
A rousing tale worth sneaking into youngsters’ Easter baskets.
It’s nearly time for the Easter egg hunt…but where’s the guest of honor?
The minutes are ticking away, but the eggs haven’t been hidden, and the Easter Bunny (described with they/them pronouns) is lost! Five children, who vary in skin tone, decide to shepherd the bunny to the city park where the hunt is being held, but they face delays at each turn. Knowing that grown-ups will “fuss and hover” if they notice the Easter Bunny, they disguise the rabbit as a street musician, but a crowd gathers to listen. A wagon, a bonnet, and a pacifier transform the bunny into the cutest baby ever, but they swiftly draw a horde of admirers. Later, a minimally disguised Easter Bunny joins a random throng of turkeys in the park—a shoutout to the creators’ Turkeys in Disguise (2025)—and somehow avoids detection. Eventually, all the eggs are hidden, and the Easter Bunny hops away. Realizing that they’ve missed the egg hunt amid the chaos, the children are dismayed―until they discover the perfect treats that the rabbit has hidden just for them. Cleland’s vibrant digital cartoon illustrations have a scribbly, childlike feel as they depict the fun-loving kids cooperating and actively problem-solving; readers will enjoy searching for the eggs and the sometimes hidden Easter Bunny. Platt’s jaunty, action-packed rhyme includes vocabulary to engage older listeners as well.
A rousing tale worth sneaking into youngsters’ Easter baskets. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
ISBN: 9780063483033
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Nov. 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2025
The spirit of Valentine’s Day shines bright in this caring community.
Gobble, gobble! Grab this farmyard story full of Valentine’s Day puns.
The animals on Farmer Jake’s farm are exchanging valentines. Delighted by a card from a secret admirer (“You are like no otter!”), Turkey decides to make clever valentines and surreptitiously deliver them to the other animals. Luckily, he has some punny inspiration for perfect Valentine’s Day messages. “You’re purr-fect.” “You’re dog-gone delightful.” “You’re toad-ally awesome!” As Turkey dons a different disguise for each delivery, the story offers a refrain that young listeners will soon chant. “His costume wasn’t bad. In fact, Turkey looked just like a cat…almost.” (The refrain changes slightly with each disguise.) Unfortunately, the other animals always recognize Turkey and greet him with a pun. But the animals also compliment his valentine and help to create a pun for his next one. Sadly, the animals always know who the valentines are from, so Turkey decides to “gobble, gobble, give up!” Returning home to read his own valentines, Turkey has an idea, and he quickly creates a festive and delicious surprise for the Valentine’s dance. Readers will have to decide if Turkey has finally managed to surprise the other animals. Boldfaced puns within the story are easy to spot, and Turkey’s cards also feature puns along with adorable illustrations. Detailed watercolor and pencil illustrations bring to life a farm filled with loving friends and highlight Turkey’s clever and ever changing costumes. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
The spirit of Valentine’s Day shines bright in this caring community. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Dec. 13, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5420-2366-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Two Lions
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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