A tale awash in fairy finery that delivers a few lessons in courage.
A youngster learns to change with the seasons.
Oak, the littlest leaf girl, lives in a big oak tree in the middle of the forest. She has “soft wings and branchlet bunches in her hair” and a fun-loving personality. Every day, Oak plays with her family and her friend Squirrel, but as the weather changes, the time comes to leave the tree. “All leaves must nestle into their winter acorn homes,” says Mama. Though Oak fears the unknown, Mama Oak reassures her that they’ll return in spring; Papa Oak says, “I trust you to go at your own pace and find the right moment to leap.” Her parents leave for a nearby acorn home, but Oak clings to her tree—and the charming illustrations make it look like a hard place to leave indeed. But autumnal tones shift to a cooler winter palette, and the warm, lighted windows of her family’s acorn house beckon. Oak realizes that it’s her family, not the tree, that brings her happiness. Oak’s resistance to change will resonate with children, but her parents’ gentle explanations and acceptance of the natural cycle guide her to face the inevitable shifting of the seasons. Fear of the unknown is nearly universal; the familiar messages and woodsy setting here offer a cozy way to reframe change as adventure. Oak and her mother are light-skinned; Papa is slightly darker-skinned.
A tale awash in fairy finery that delivers a few lessons in courage. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2024
ISBN: 9781536238822
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2024
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators.
Existing artwork from an artistic giant inspires a fairy-tale reimagination by a master of the horror genre.
In King’s interpretation of a classic Brothers Grimm story, which accompanies set and costume designs that the late Sendak created for a 1997 production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera, siblings Hansel and Gretel survive abandonment in the woods and an evil witch’s plot to gobble them up before finding their “happily ever after” alongside their father. Prose with the reassuring cadence of an old-timey tale, paired with Sendak’s instantly recognizable artwork, will lull readers before capitalizing on these creators’ knack for injecting darkness into seemingly safe spaces. Gaping faces loom in crevices of rocks and trees, and a gloomy palette of muted greens and ocher amplify the story’s foreboding tone, while King never sugarcoats the peach-skinned children’s peril. Branches with “clutching fingers” hide “the awful enchanted house” of a “child-stealing witch,” all portrayed in an eclectic mix of spot and full-bleed images. Featuring insults that might strike some as harsh (“idiot,” “fool”), the lengthy, dense text may try young readers’ patience, and the often overwhelmingly ominous mood feels more pitched to adults—particularly those familiar with King and Sendak—but an introduction acknowledges grandparents as a likely audience, and nostalgia may prompt leniency over an occasional disconnect between words and art.
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9780062644695
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2025
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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