A subtle charmer, wock, stock, and barrel.
The preciousness of every “wock” lies in the eye of the beholder.
A small, gap-toothed child sets forth on a journey (one, it becomes clear, that this youngster has taken before). “I am an expert at wock finding,” says the protagonist. The child is accompanied by a faceless adult who follows behind patiently, picking up dropped mittens and, later, babysitting the collection of wocks. Though wock appears to be a mispronunciation of rock, other small, pocketable items—twigs, bottlecaps—catch the child’s eye, too. Much of the book’s appeal lies in the single-minded intensity of the protagonist’s passion. Kids needn’t be wock fans to recognize the joy in finding treasures in the everyday (particularly when some objects are described as “powerful”). The story is told entirely in the child’s first-person voice; Knisley bedecks both youngster and caregiver in vibrant shades of yellow, red, and green, all rendered in gouache, watercolor, and colored pencil. Endpapers show the various objects in the collection, including everything from striated stones to cicada husks. Consider pairing alongside the fellow collecting title A Pocket Full of Rocks by Kristin Mahoney (2025). Both child and caregiver are pale-skinned.
A subtle charmer, wock, stock, and barrel. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: June 9, 2026
ISBN: 9780593858257
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Rocky Pond Books/Penguin
Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
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
A good choice for caregivers looking for a positive, uncomplicated introduction to a new baby that focuses on everything an...
A little boy exults in his new role as big brother.
Rhyming text describes the arrival of a new baby and all of the big brother’s rewarding new duties. He gets to help with feedings, diaper changes, playtime, bathtime, and naptime. Though the rhyming couplets can sometimes feel a bit forced and awkward, the sentiment is sweet, as the focus here never veers from the excitement and love a little boy feels for his tiny new sibling. The charming, uncluttered illustrations convincingly depict the growing bond between this fair-skinned, rosy-cheeked, smiling pair of boys. In the final pages, the parents, heretofore kept mostly out of view, are pictured holding the children. The accompanying text reads: “Mommy, Daddy, baby, me. / We love each other—a family!” In companion volume I Am a Big Sister, the little boy is replaced with a little girl with bows in her hair. Some of the colors and patterns in the illustrations are slightly altered, but it is essentially the same title.
A good choice for caregivers looking for a positive, uncomplicated introduction to a new baby that focuses on everything an older sibling can do to help. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-545-68886-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015
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