Doesn’t stand out from the crowd despite cute illustrations.
Thiesing’s simple offering joins the shelves of books about friendship.
While the text doesn’t stand out amid those crowded shelves, simply listing what friends are “for” (“singing,” “giggling,” “wondering”), the adorable illustrations may draw readers in. Anthropomorphized animal pairs, sometimes of the same species and sometimes different, show readers friendship in action. “A friend is… for listening, / sharing, // and for playing” is illustrated with three vignettes: a rabbit whispering to a clearly shocked pig, another rabbit sharing a wheel of cheese with a mouse, and a squirrel and a mouse flying a kite together. The final spread breaks the pattern with the hopeful but not necessarily accurate sentiment “A friend is…forever.” As the pages turn, children may notice the seasons also turning from winter through spring and summer to fall. Simple backgrounds with just enough detail to mark the time of year and activity keep the focus on the friends, who clearly care about one another enough to be fully present to each other through thick and thin, even when it might be tough (a cat listens patiently as a dog gesticulates while complaining). But while this might be a good reminder of what a good friend looks like, it likely won’t be one readers reach for repeatedly. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 36.5% of actual size.)
Doesn’t stand out from the crowd despite cute illustrations. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Dec. 8, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5344-6572-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Aladdin
Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2020
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Sure to have little ones giggling.
Jacques is a hedgehog with a big secret: “I wear real, bona fide underwear.”
Our narrator received a mysterious package one day; an illustration shows a pair of underwear tied to a balloon with a note “from the Universe” floating down into Jacques’ burrow. Hedgehogs don’t wear underwear, however. Will Jacques be shunned? Jacques worries but comes to a decision: “I have to wear them. When I do I feel special.” Determined, Jacques, who’s been invited to a party, makes a dramatic entrance, with undies in hand. Jacques’ declaration (“I WEAR UNDERWEAR”) is met with remarks of dismay, before another hedgehog opens up about similar fears and shows off a pair of cowboy boots. More hedgehogs introduce themselves with their own confessions. The story ends with Jacques unveiling a painting of the underwear in a gallery filled with hedgehogs wearing all sorts of attire. Though the book is simple in plot, characters, and setting, it wins in its balance of bathroom humor, dramatic storytelling, and celebrations of individual expression. French words are peppered throughout, adding to the fun without detracting from the story for those unfamiliar with the language. The cartoonish illustrations brim with fun; Valdez relies heavily on geometric shapes (triangle noses for the hedgehogs; huge circles for their eyes). Details such as speech bubbles and recurring turtle and snake characters contribute to the outlandish humor.
Sure to have little ones giggling. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
ISBN: 9781250814388
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2025
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BOOK REVIEW
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