A delightful story about what a particular animal does throughout the year.
A groundhog shares fun facts about himself in Galioto’s picture book.
Owen is an adorable groundhog who likes to dig burrows with his large claws and swim in the creek on his back. He hibernates in the winter in his dark, 6-foot-deep tunnel and emerges hungry in February. Throughout, he walks readers through his various routines and presents fun facts, such as “Although I am a groundhog, / I CAN CLIMB A TREE!” He shows off his climbing skills and mentions that he can whistle—usually when something startles him. Halak’s painterly images have soft colors and rich backgrounds, whether portraying the creek, the trees, or Owen’s underground home. The text uses singsong ABAB rhymes that give it a quick pace, and it’s full of information that children are likely to enjoy and even memorize: “Some find it quite intriguing / that my teeth grow every week. / I can hold my breath five minutes— / that’s also quite a feat!” The book is also short and likely to hold a younger child’s attention. No humans appear, but ships, houses, and a garden do. The book ends on an appealingly silly note, with Owen scurrying off with stolen peaches, showing that he is, in fact, a very busy groundhog.
A delightful story about what a particular animal does throughout the year.Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781964934846
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Blue Balloon Books
Review Posted Online: April 10, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending.
Don’t let the Pigeon ruin his own special day!
Anyone who has ever encountered the title character in any of his books—whether his first, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (2003), or one of its many sequels—will understand that the bird’s innate self-love drives his every interaction. Little wonder, then, that he’s thrilled about his own “bird-day.” He has the hat. He has his “FANCY PLUMAGE.” And, best of all, he will get to blow out a candle “on my bird-day hot dog!” As he revels in the knowledge that this day is all for him, comeuppance is lurking. Someone has already blown out the bird-day candle—and eaten half the hot dog. It turns out that the Pigeon’s frenemy, the Duckling, has the same bird-day—as do a slew of newly hatched chicks. The Pigeon’s obligatory eight-panel freakout ensues. “What am I—invisible? I just want to be seen,” he whimpers, and when he receives some much-needed reassurance, he settles down and willingly shares his special day. While the switch from unapologetic narcissism to mature acceptance happens in the record-breaking span of two pages, the book is as enchanting as the Pigeon’s earlier outings. Even as it walks in the footsteps of its predecessors, there’s no denying the fun to be had.
Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
ISBN: 9781454999621
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
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A sweet, springtime-themed reworking of a beloved tale.
The classic picture book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (1989) gets a makeover for Easter as the letters of the alphabet locate and decorate eggs.
The mission is simple: “Chicka chicka peek peek. / Everybody seek seek! / Find all the eggs / in the pretty pink tree.” The letters are making their way up the flowering tree in search of the hidden eggs when a “SNEEZE!” scatters everyone and the eggs fall and crack. Luckily, a bunny hops by with a haul of new ones, which the letters then paint and bedazzle, eventually sharing the newly decorated eggs with a group of bunnies. This picture book is a successfully Easter-fied version of the original: The letters go up; the letters fall down. Truly, though, that’s all the preschool crowd needs. Chung’s illustrations are simple and familiar, a direct echo of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. The letters appear in colorful, bold, block form. The book has few added details, just focal images like the tree and its pink flowers, the colorful eggs, tufts of grass, and some friendly rabbits. The alphabet appears in order (both upper- and lowercase letters) at the book’s open and close. The rhyming text follows the iconic cadence of the source material, making for a worthy read-aloud that will keep little hands turning pages.
A sweet, springtime-themed reworking of a beloved tale. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
ISBN: 9781665990646
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2025
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