A fable that reminds readers that “normal” isn’t always better.
Sometimes our differences prove to be our greatest strengths.
Elephant has an unusually long nose—even for an elephant. Rather than letting it slow him down, he uses it for all sorts of fun and practical applications on the savanna. Elephant uses his lengthy trunk to rock Little Antelope to sleep and to help Old Monkey climb trees. The refrain “That’s not normal!” follows each example of Elephant using his trunk in an unexpected way, each depicted by du Faÿ with winning whimsy. Most of the animals are thankful for Elephant’s odd but helpful nose. The only animal around that doesn’t seem amused by Elephant’s stretched-out snout is grouchy busybody Hippopotamus. He’s so preoccupied with criticizing Elephant that he doesn’t notice when Baby Hippo is in imminent danger. Elephant and his nose step in to save the day despite Hippopotamus’ harassment. A chastened Hippo apologizes and vows to change his judgmental ways—a neat and tidy ending that readers can aspire to even if they don’t witness it often in real life. This solid English translation of the Spanish ¡Eso no es normal! (published in Spain in 2015) preserves the charm of the original. Repeated phrases and eye-catching illustrations give the story great read-aloud and read-together potential.
A fable that reminds readers that “normal” isn’t always better. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Nov. 8, 2021
ISBN: 978-84-18133-23-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: NubeOcho
Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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