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ALL I WANT TO DO IS SWIM

Name: ALL I WANT TO DO IS SWIM
Author: Marilyn Singer
ISBN: 9780593752395

by Marilyn Singer ; illustrated by Luisa Uribe ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 28, 2026

Tender and uplifting.

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What would it be like to swim among water creatures?

The brown-skinned young narrator of this story has taken swimming lessons, “but they just aren’t any fun. / We swim back and forth the whole time— / I’m always glad when we are done.” As the child sits on the edge of a lakeside dock, tentatively dipping toes into the water, watching turtles and fish, the little one wonders: “Could I swim like them?” The answer is a triumphant yes as the child leaps in, following the turtle, then a duck, mimicking their motions. The youngster imagines—and imitates—other animals, depicted as translucent white figures: a hippo, a penguin, a dolphin, and a frog. With arms outstretched, the youngster moves among them, flying to the surface, flipping and jumping, feet kicking. By story’s end, the child has learned to love swimming: “In a pond / or in the ocean, / in a pool that’s in the gym. // In the winter, in the summer, // all I want to do is swim!” Singer relates this simple tale in verse, generally relying on a gentle ABCB rhyme and centering the child’s thoughts and fantasies. In Uribe’s artwork, the water is the center of the action—a lovely blue-green lake, sparkling, and glowing with sunlight, and apparently part of a family property. The young protagonist’s every movement is imbued with emotion; readers will be charmed.

Tender and uplifting. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: April 28, 2026

ISBN: 9780593752395

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Rise x Penguin Workshop

Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

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WHOSE TREE IS THIS?
by Marilyn Singer ; illustrated by Julian Plum

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AWE-SOME DAYS
by Marilyn Singer ; illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte

- BOOK REVIEW
DOG SAYS, CAT SAYS
by Marilyn Singer ; illustrated by Sonia Sánchez

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IT'S MY BIRD-DAY!

From the Pigeon series

by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2026

Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending.

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Don’t let the Pigeon ruin his own special day!

Anyone who has ever encountered the title character in any of his books—whether his first, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (2003), or one of its many sequels—will understand that the bird’s innate self-love drives his every interaction. Little wonder, then, that he’s thrilled about his own “bird-day.” He has the hat. He has his “FANCY PLUMAGE.” And, best of all, he will get to blow out a candle “on my bird-day hot dog!” As he revels in the knowledge that this day is all for him, comeuppance is lurking. Someone has already blown out the bird-day candle—and eaten half the hot dog. It turns out that the Pigeon’s frenemy, the Duckling, has the same bird-day—as do a slew of newly hatched chicks. The Pigeon’s obligatory eight-panel freakout ensues. “What am I—invisible? I just want to be seen,” he whimpers, and when he receives some much-needed reassurance, he settles down and willingly shares his special day. While the switch from unapologetic narcissism to mature acceptance happens in the record-breaking span of two pages, the book is as enchanting as the Pigeon’s earlier outings. Even as it walks in the footsteps of its predecessors, there’s no denying the fun to be had.

Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: March 31, 2026

ISBN: 9781454999621

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Union Square Kids

Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

- BOOK REVIEW
THE MONSTER AND PUPPET SHOW!
by Mo Willems & Kate Micucci ; illustrated by Mo Willems & Kate Micucci

- BOOK REVIEW
THE PIGEON WON'T COUNT TO 10!
by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems

- BOOK REVIEW
WILL THE PIGEON GRADUATE?
by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems

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HEDGEHOGS DON'T WEAR UNDERWEAR

by Marissa Valdez ; illustrated by Marissa Valdez ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2025

Sure to have little ones giggling.

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Jacques is a hedgehog with a big secret: “I wear real, bona fide underwear.”

Our narrator received a mysterious package one day; an illustration shows a pair of underwear tied to a balloon with a note “from the Universe” floating down into Jacques’ burrow. Hedgehogs don’t wear underwear, however. Will Jacques be shunned? Jacques worries but comes to a decision: “I have to wear them. When I do I feel special.” Determined, Jacques, who’s been invited to a party, makes a dramatic entrance, with undies in hand. Jacques’ declaration (“I WEAR UNDERWEAR”) is met with remarks of dismay, before another hedgehog opens up about similar fears and shows off a pair of cowboy boots. More hedgehogs introduce themselves with their own confessions. The story ends with Jacques unveiling a painting of the underwear in a gallery filled with hedgehogs wearing all sorts of attire. Though the book is simple in plot, characters, and setting, it wins in its balance of bathroom humor, dramatic storytelling, and celebrations of individual expression. French words are peppered throughout, adding to the fun without detracting from the story for those unfamiliar with the language. The cartoonish illustrations brim with fun; Valdez relies heavily on geometric shapes (triangle noses for the hedgehogs; huge circles for their eyes). Details such as speech bubbles and recurring turtle and snake characters contribute to the outlandish humor.

Sure to have little ones giggling. (Picture book. 3-5)