That rare gem—a gorgeously crafted tale for the youngest readers that radiates beauty, warmth, and wit.
A little squirrel awakens its woodland friends for an exhilarating night of wintry playtime.
“The storm is over. The stars are out. But one little squirrel is not in bed.” Colored pencil and watercolor illustrations depict a warm, snug home for the red squirrel, who gazes out from the tree knot that serves as a window to a starry night. Having donned a red ski cap, the squirrel excitedly slides down a snowy slope to awaken its friends: “Wake up, snow!” The phrase “wake up” recurs as a fox, an owl, and a bear are roused. A tense moment with the bear soon turns to merriment when the friends remember that “bears just roar when they’re having fun.” The tender, lyrical text deftly employs rhythm and rhyme. Always simple linguistically but sometimes profound in content, it extends the wake-up call to the natural landscape and to concepts that include “shy glances” and “taking chances” and, of course, friendship. In appearance and behavior, the animals have the charm of Beatrix Potter’s anthropomorphic characters: Well-executed natural details combine seamlessly with human attributes in rich, harmonious natural settings. Full-bleed art shows animals gliding, sliding, creating snow bears, and finally curling up with cocoa and bedding down to sleep—each page in this gently humorous tale would make a superb winter holiday card.
That rare gem—a gorgeously crafted tale for the youngest readers that radiates beauty, warmth, and wit. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Oct. 29, 2024
ISBN: 9781665939256
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say.
A dog-loving child encourages a less-than-enthusiastic younger one to imagine they’re both canines.
From the first declaration—“I’d be a big dog! And you’d be a little one!”—readers know who’s calling the shots. Initially, the protagonists cavort off the page and through the neighborhood together, performing doggy capers such as tail wagging, stick carrying, and dirt digging. But by the time they encounter a multitude of like-minded creatures at the dog park, the disgruntled small pup is exhibiting out-and-out rebellion: “Being a dog is YOUR idea! Sometimes I HAVE IDEAS TOO!” The narrative wraps up with the younger child pretending to be a different animal entirely—cleverly foreshadowed through subtle details in the illustrations. Even the endpapers—lively silhouettes of dogs in the beginning and many different animals in closing—extend the theme to suggest the imaginative possibilities of pretend play. Cheerful, lightly hued colors fit the whimsical mood, while expressive body language allows the art to tell the story with a minimum of words. Ending on a surprising note, with a sweet compromise between the two main characters, the tale gives both kids the freedom to embrace their own preferences and styles—while still enjoying their game.
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9780316581721
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
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