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LANDING IN A NEW POND

Name: LANDING IN A NEW POND
Author: Marisa Ramel
ISBN: 9781623545680

by Marisa Ramel ; illustrated by Jennifer Doehring ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 11, 2026

A sweet tale about seeking out community where you least expect it.

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After relocating, a child befriends a flock of ducks.

Moving somewhere new means making new pals—but “I’ve already made forty-one friends,” our young narrator points out. While visiting a nearby park with Mama and little sister, the protagonist bonds with a group of ducks: “Their quacks are hellos. Their waddles are waves. Their nibbles are noisy thank-yous.” The child brings the ducks healthy snacks and pays special attention to Buttercup (who’s lost many feathers) and Hoppity, who has an injured foot. Doehring’s immersive illustrations, often spilling across spreads, show a park full of colors that change with the seasons. All the while, the child’s confidence and attachment to these new friends strengthen. Little sister tries to help but “is too little to do it right.” Mama warns, “Soon, the ducks will move, like we did.” Even after the child makes them a feast of all their favorite treats, the flock disappears one snowy morning, heading south for the winter. “Moving is hard,” says Mama. “For ducks, for kids, even for grown-ups.” But the narrator's little sister turns out to be a willing playmate as Ramel and Doehring bring the narrative to a conclusion imbued with themes of resilience and friendship among those in one’s own flock. Backmatter provides information on the story’s inspiration, as well as information on what ducks can and can’t eat. Human characters are beige-skinned.

A sweet tale about seeking out community where you least expect it. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Aug. 11, 2026

ISBN: 9781623545680

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Charlesbridge

Review Posted Online: May 4, 2026

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING

by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2014

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle...

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Making things is difficult work. Readers will recognize the stages of this young heroine’s experience as she struggles to realize her vision.

First comes anticipation. The artist/engineer is spotted jauntily pulling a wagonload of junkyard treasures. Accompanied by her trusty canine companion, she begins drawing plans and building an assemblage. The narration has a breezy tone: “[S]he makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” The colorful caricatures and creations contrast with the digital black outlines on a white background that depict an urban neighborhood. Intermittent blue-gray panels break up the white expanses on selected pages showing sequential actions. When the first piece doesn’t turn out as desired, the protagonist tries again, hoping to achieve magnificence. A model of persistence, she tries many adjustments; the vocabulary alone offers constructive behaviors: she “tinkers,” “wrenches,” “fiddles,” “examines,” “stares” and “tweaks.” Such hard work, however, combines with disappointing results, eventually leading to frustration, anger and injury. Explosive emotions are followed by defeat, portrayed with a small font and scaled-down figures. When the dog, whose expressions have humorously mirrored his owner’s through each phase, retrieves his leash, the resulting stroll serves them well. A fresh perspective brings renewed enthusiasm and—spoiler alert—a most magnificent scooter sidecar for a loyal assistant.

Spires’ understanding of the fragility and power of the artistic impulse mixes with expert pacing and subtle characterization for maximum delight. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: April 1, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-55453-704-4

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Kids Can

Review Posted Online: Feb. 25, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
BYE BYE, BUTTERFLY
developed by Ashley Spires ; adapted by Naseem Hrab ; illustrated by Mike Shiell

- BOOK REVIEW
NO MOUSIE LEFT BEHIND
developed by Ashley Spires ; adapted by Naseem Hrab ; illustrated by Mike Shiell

- BOOK REVIEW
THE MOST MAGNIFICENT MAKER'S A TO Z
by Ashley Spires ; illustrated by Ashley Spires

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)