Infused with science, a quirky tale that will delight children and caregivers alike.
“Wait ’til you’re older”—are there any more frustrating words in the English language?
Reha is frustrated by her older brother Arvan’s refusal to let her play with his prized toy T. rex. “You’re too little,” he tells her, while her mother also suggests waiting until she’s bigger. Determined to join in the fun, Reha embarks on an imaginative journey to grow up quickly, first attempting to build a time machine before later working on a rocket to search for a black hole. At one point, she decides to go back to the Mesozoic era—who needs toys when you’ve got real live dinos? Each whimsical plan fails, but when the intrigued Arvan offers to help, Reha wisely agrees—on one condition. He must bring his T. rex along to play. Together, they not only construct a toy rocket, but also forge a stronger sibling bond that will carry them forward. Energetic earth-toned illustrations accented by splashes of purple and blue complement the narrative, adding warmth and charm. Reha’s spirited problem-solving and her eventual collaboration with Arvan result in a heartening, engaging work. Several pages of backmatter explaining time, time travel, relativity, and black holes round out this playful story with doses of science and philosophy. Reha and her family are brown-skinned; names imply South Asian heritage.
Infused with science, a quirky tale that will delight children and caregivers alike. (author’s note, references) (Picture book. 4-9)Pub Date: June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9781728271231
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks eXplore
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for...
A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility.
Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. When Gavin’s desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. “After all, it isn’t his fault that Danielle’s snow globe got broken. Sure, he shouldn’t have been in her room—but then, she shouldn’t be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. Anybody would be tempted. Anybody!” opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle’s yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English (Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener.
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Dec. 17, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-547-97044-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.
Not even the arrival of autumn can cool down this impetuous squirrel.
Although Squirrel is skeptical about Bird’s vegetable patch (“Nothing is HAPPENING!”), Bird does produce five (count them) lovely pumpkins. Squirrel picks out a favorite: “The enormous orange one.” Bird hints that Squirrel might want to help out; Squirrel sets out to fetch some work gloves and returns to find only four pumpkins. The frequently distracted Squirrel notices more gourds disappearing and leaps to the conclusion that a thief is near. And where’s Bird?! Has Squirrel’s pal also been taken? Diligently detecting, Squirrel finds clues—peck marks, footprints, and more—and produces a sketch of the suspect. As readers will guess, each clue turns out to point to one of Squirrel and Bird’s friends. Turns out Bird was delivering pumpkins to their pals while saving the big one to give to “my very best friend,” Squirrel. But why does Squirrel haul it up a tree? “So the Pumpkin Thief can’t find it, of course!” A page of pumpkin facts provides the learning component common to all titles in this series. Once more, readers will enjoy the pleasure of prediction and repetition, Squirrel’s silly persistence, Bird’s generosity, and the vibrant color illustrations, balancing orange with green.
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781464268076
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2026
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