Familiar moments for children in growing families.
Toby feels displaced in his elephant family thanks to his needy baby sister, Iris.
Like most young children, even anthropomorphic elephant ones, Toby is eager to be considered “big” and do things on his own. But being a big boy isn’t quite as exciting as Toby thought it would be when he realizes it comes at the expense of Mama’s attention, now devoted to his baby sister, Iris. Peacock’s text certainly includes accurate examples of Toby doing things “All By Himself” (yes, with the caps!), such as buttoning his coat (out of alignment) and putting on (two different) rain boots. And young readers with little siblings will certainly relate to the feelings of displacement. Pym’s illustrations—done in watercolor, colored pencils, and potato stamps—are charming and full of detail. When Toby is proudly explaining his milk-pouring and book-reading skills, he’s actually spilling milk out of the bowl and reading a book upside down. Toby ultimately decides to run away (that’ll show Mama!), packing his suitcase with a toothbrush, trumpet, and toys, a true preschooler moment. In the end, Mama reassures him with the tired cliché that he’ll “always be [her] baby.” This ending reads like a missed opportunity to instead affirm all of the ways Toby (or a young reader) is in fact a successful “big boy,” no longer a baby.
Familiar moments for children in growing families. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: July 9, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-9848-4769-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
A funny tale about stress and an ever upping ante, with a comforting end.
Something is preventing Owl from falling asleep.
Owl leans back against his white pillow and headboard. “Squeek!” says something underneath the bed. Owl’s never heard that sound before, so he fastens his pink bathrobe and answers the front door. Nobody. It must be the wind; back to bed. Bidding himself goodnight, he climbs into bed—and hears the noise again. Time after time, he pops out of bed seeking the squeaker. Is it in the cupboard? He empties the shelves. Under the floor? He pulls up his floorboards. As Owl’s actions ratchet up—he destroys the roof and smashes the walls, all in search of the squeak—so does his anxiety. Not until he hunkers down in bed under the night sky (his bed is now outdoors, because the house’s roof and walls are gone), frantically clutching his pillow, does he see what readers have seen all along: a small, gray mouse. In simple illustrations with black outlines, textured coloring, and foreshortened perspective, Pizzoli plays mischievously with mouse placement. Sometimes the mouse is behind Owl or just out of his sightline; other times, the mouse is on a solid, orange-colored page across the spread from Owl, which removes him from Owl’s scene in a rather postmodern manner. Is the mouse toying with Owl? Who knows?
A funny tale about stress and an ever upping ante, with a comforting end. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: April 19, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4847-1275-7
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2016
A powerful affirmation for all dads—the good, the flawed, and those doing the best they can.
Dedicating his latest to “caregivers who give what they never got,” Caldecott Honor winner Robinson explores complicated feelings around fatherhood.
From the outset, the book appears to be a standard-issue Father’s Day offering, pairing brief, loving sentiments with images of animals. But it soon becomes clear that Robinson has crafted something much more complex. A frog with tadpoles nestled atop his back (“Dad is here”) is followed by an illustration of an owl leaving the nest (“Dad had to go away”). More contrasts are presented: a seahorse keeping his offspring safe in his pouch (“Dad holds on tight”), two shark pups swimming away from their frenzied-looking patriarch (“Dad need lots of space”). “Dad lets you down and makes mistakes” (a porcupine accidentally jabs his little one), but “Dad picks you up and makes you feel safe” (a lion snuggles his cub). And the human fathers we meet next—diverse in skin tone and ability—are equally multifaceted. Robinson outdoes himself, his bold and richly textured paint and collage artwork popping against the background. His artwork is rife with subtleties for careful readers—for instance, the look of uncertainty in the eyes of the gorilla father described as “strong.” For all its simplicity, this colorful book is laden with meaning, depicting fathers as vulnerable, imperfect, gentle, and empathetic—in a word, deeply human.
A powerful affirmation for all dads—the good, the flawed, and those doing the best they can. (more information on the animals presented) (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 12, 2026
ISBN: 9781250397041
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2026
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