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MY BROWN BOY

Name: MY BROWN BOY
Author: Leslé Honoré
ISBN: 9780316314145

by Leslé Honoré ; illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 13, 2026

A tender triumph.

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Brown youngsters with diverse interests and deep emotions are celebrated in this artful ode to Black boyhood.

In the voice of a proud caregiver, an unseen narrator describes “my brown boy” as someone who “doesn’t play ball,” who loves to create, and who has big dreams. But “our brown boys are sometimes afraid.” “Our brown boys are allowed tears... / It’s their right to cry / and release the anger inside.” The deft transition from “my brown boy” to “our brown boys” celebrates these youngsters’ unique talents and gifts but treats fear and pain as collective and connective rather than isolating. Expressionistic splotches of dark blue accompany an image of a boy burying his head in his knees. Another illustration shows three boys nearly waist-high in a pool of tears, but the mood returns to one of joy as the narrator looks ahead to these boys’ futures as brilliant men. Honoré’s playful and energetic rhythmic text lends itself to a read-aloud experience; in its love of sound and unabashed affection for its subject, it evokes the African American poetic and literary tradition. Bobo’s painted art begs to be pored over, with its wide-ranging palette and use of abstract shapes, textures, layers, and abundant patterns. This heartfelt poem flows effortlessly; these are messages of love and tenderness that brown boys need to hear about themselves—and that the world needs to hear about brown boys.

A tender triumph. (author’s and illustrator’s notes) (Picture book. 3-8)

Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026

ISBN: 9780316314145

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
BROWN GIRL, BROWN GIRL
by Leslé Honoré ; illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK LOST AND FOUND

From the Little Blue Truck series

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 18, 2026

Fun times, fond friends, and a festive farmyard setting—little ones will be charmed.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK AND RACER RED
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry

- BOOK REVIEW
LITTLE BLUE TRUCK MAKES A FRIEND
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry

- BOOK REVIEW
TIME FOR SCHOOL, LITTLE BLUE TRUCK
by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by John Joseph

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THE PUMPKIN THIEF

From the Leaf Thief series

by Alice Hemming ; illustrated by Nicola Slater ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 28, 2026

More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.

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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)