Readers don’t have to believe in magic to enjoy what this tale has to offer.
Two wombats realize that real friendship is more important than anything—even a can’t-miss theme park.
Albert owes Pickles a favor, which is the catalyst for the misadventure that follows. Pickles wants to go to Wizard’s Wharf. The magic-themed amusement park leaves Albert visibly unimpressed, while Pickles has a ball. The place is a money vacuum that Albert calls out for its fakery, but Pickles is convinced the magic is all real. They run into their friend Platters the platypus, who shows off a secret attraction that isn’t open to the public yet. The pair become separated. Two Beings of Unexplained Magic—little, monsterlike creatures with wings—join Albert on his search for Pickles, though he refuses to believe they’re real. Relying on his ability to predict his pal’s movements, Albert works to track Pickles down. Layouts are clear, with three to five panels per page, while a multipage roller-coaster sequence is a little more twisty. Readers may find themselves split between giggling at Pickles’ antics and questioning what the adorably harebrained wombat brings to the friendship. Straitlaced Albert asks nothing from Pickles except to clean up after making a mess. By the end, however, both wombats agree on the value of their friendship.
Readers don’t have to believe in magic to enjoy what this tale has to offer. (Graphic fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Feb. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593465424
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Nov. 18, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2023
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists.
How to raise money for a coveted poster: put your friends to work!
John, founder of the FUBU fashion line and a Shark Tank venture capitalist, offers a self-referential blueprint for financial success. Having only half of the $10 he needs for a Minka J poster, Daymond forks over $1 to buy a plain T-shirt, paints a picture of the pop star on it, sells it for $5, and uses all of his cash to buy nine more shirts. Then he recruits three friends to decorate them with his design and help sell them for an unspecified amount (from a conveniently free and empty street-fair booth) until they’re gone. The enterprising entrepreneur reimburses himself for the shirts and splits the remaining proceeds, which leaves him with enough for that poster as well as a “brand-new business book,” while his friends express other fiscal strategies: saving their share, spending it all on new art supplies, or donating part and buying a (math) book with the rest. (In a closing summation, the author also suggests investing in stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrency.) Though Miles cranks up the visual energy in her sparsely detailed illustrations by incorporating bright colors and lots of greenbacks, the actual advice feels a bit vague. Daymond is Black; most of the cast are people of color. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists. (Picture book. 7-9)Pub Date: March 21, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-56727-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
A tale of mutual adoration that hits a sweet note.
Little Honey Bunny Funnybunny loves baseball almost as much as she loves her big brother P.J.—though it’s a close-run thing.
Readers familiar with the pranks P.J. plays on his younger sibling in older episodes of the series (most illustrated by Roger Bollen) will be amused—and perhaps a little confused—to see him in the role of perfect big brother after meeting his swaddled little sister for the first time in mama’s lap. But here, along with being a constant companion and “always happy to see her,” he cements his heroic status in her eyes by hitting a home run for his baseball team and then patiently teaching her how to play T-ball. After carefully coaching her and leading her through warm-up exercises, he even sits in the stands, loudly cheering her on as she scores the winning run in her own very first game. “‘You are the best brother a bunny could ever have!’” she burbles. This tale’s a tad blander compared with others centered on P.J. and his sister, but it’s undeniably cheery, with text well structured for burgeoning readers. The all-smiles animal cast in Bowers’ cartoon art features a large and diversely hued family of bunnies sporting immense floppy ears as well as a multispecies crowd of furry onlookers equally varied of color, with one spectator in a wheelchair.
A tale of mutual adoration that hits a sweet note. (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: Jan. 6, 2026
ISBN: 9798217032464
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
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