A wonderfully effective, reassuring look at an often scary experience.
A child visits the hospital.
“When I went to the hospital, I cried nine times,” notes the brown-skinned narrator, who also appears in The Airport Book (2016). Her tears begin at the pain in her stomach, which causes her parents—one Black, one White—to rush her to the hospital. Other tearful moments include jostling painfully over a speed bump en route to the emergency room, fretting in a hectic waiting room, and feeling doctors press her stomach. And when she’s diagnosed with appendicitis, which requires surgery, she and her parents cry a little. At night, she cries because of funny smells, beeping machines, and loneliness, though a parent snores nearby. But some things aren’t scary—her hospital gown and bracelet and grippy socks, for instance. The narrator’s matter-of-fact tone and step-by-step descriptions of everything from admission to discharge (a cause for happy tears) are calming, and friendly doctors and nurses offer further encouragement in speech-balloon dialogue. Cartoon illustrations gently depict procedures such as an ultrasound and IV insertion and add occasional humor, as when a passing Sherlock Holmes answers “Elementary” to a page for Dr. Watson. Framing the story by counting the number of times the protagonist cries—and doesn’t cry—is an inspired choice that acknowledges fears but also bolsters readers. A bustling medley of racially diverse background characters invites readers to imagine their stories as well. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A wonderfully effective, reassuring look at an often scary experience. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 21, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-8234-4665-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Neal Porter/Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available.
A ghost learns to appreciate his differences.
The little ghost protagonist of this title is unusual. He’s a quilt, not a lightweight sheet like his parents and friends. He dislikes being different despite his mom’s reassurance that his ancestors also had unconventional appearances. Halloween makes the little ghost happy, though. He decides to watch trick-or-treaters by draping over a porch chair—but lands on a porch rail instead. A mom accompanying her daughter picks him up, wraps him around her chilly daughter, and brings him home with them! The family likes his looks and comforting warmth, and the little ghost immediately feels better about himself. As soon as he’s able to, he flies out through the chimney and muses happily that this adventure happened only due to his being a quilt. This odd but gently told story conveys the importance of self-respect and acceptance of one’s uniqueness. The delivery of this positive message has something of a heavy-handed feel and is rushed besides. It also isn’t entirely logical: The protagonist could have been a different type of covering; a blanket, for instance, might have enjoyed an identical experience. The soft, pleasing illustrations’ palette of tans, grays, white, black, some touches of color, and, occasionally, white text against black backgrounds suggest isolation, such as the ghost feels about himself. Most humans, including the trick-or-treating mom and daughter, have beige skin. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-16.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 66.2% of actual size.)
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7352-6447-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
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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