An upbeat introduction to limb difference.
A boy with a ninja alter ego battles the first day of school.
Ten-year-old “ninja master” Nathaniel Brown has been rocking his green ninja suit all summer; accordingly, his friends dub him Ninja Nate. He deems his older brother, Charlie, his sensei, but the boss is Mama Mary, who nurtures her ninjas “between snack-time rumbles and play-time fumbles.” When he’s not performing feats of “play-jitsu” with his silver sword, battling butterflies and deflecting sprinkler sprays, Nate chills like any other kid. The night before the first day of school, Ninja Nate dreams of combating “a gazillion nefarious ninjas” intent on conquering Potato Chip Dip Mountain. But he wakes to a harsher reality. After an accident, his leg was replaced by a prosthesis, which his costume has concealed; his sword is a sticker-dotted cane. Will his classmates accept the “new” Nathaniel? When he heeds Mama Mary’s advice—“One step at a time”—he discovers that his racially diverse classmates admire both Ninja Nate’s “cool ninja moves” and Nathaniel’s intelligence and kindness. While their ready acceptance of his limb difference is reassuring, the resolution feels somewhat rushed; readers battling similar anxieties may wish for more details. Bold, animated comic-style text and illustrations immerse readers in Nathaniel's vivid imagination while sympathetically conveying his apprehension and family members’ and friends’ support. Nathaniel and his family are Black. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An upbeat introduction to limb difference. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9781534476929
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Visually sweet, though hampered by disjointed storytelling.
In this picture book from Fox News journalist Hall, a young hedgehog must find a way to protect his community when peril looms.
Hedgehog and his father both have busy days ahead. Dad’s on his way to the newspaper to report “what new news the news brings.” Hedgehog packs his backpack for an adventure, mindful of Dad’s rules: “Don’t talk to strangers” and “never ever cross the river alone.” Obeying the rules proves difficult when Hedgehog notices commotion on the other side of the river: A bear is hungrily eyeing Baby Owl, who’s fallen from her tree. With creative thinking, Hedgehog frightens off the bear and alerts Mama Owl, but the predator is still at large. So Hedgehog and Mama Owl create flyers to warn the forest residents. Though Motzo’s airy illustrations are pleasing—particularly the adorably animated Hedgehog, a tribute to Hall’s own children—the narrative feels bogged down with multiple themes as it attempts to explore the power of the written word, the importance of community, and the need to adhere to a parent’s rules. When Hedgehog apologizes for his apparent disobedience, Dad explains that Hedgehog never actually broke the rules; turns out it’s OK to cross the river in the company of an adult, and Mama Owl’s no stranger (she’s the town librarian, whom Hedgehog sees every week). The back-and-forth may leave readers confused; it also feels like a missed opportunity to discuss how to identify trustworthy adults.
Visually sweet, though hampered by disjointed storytelling. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
ISBN: 9780063357549
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2026
Another empowering outing led by a dynamic young role model.
The third title in the Ambitious Girl series finds young Maya wanting accomplished women to get their due.
On a school trip to Washington, D.C., brown-skinned, bubble-braided Maya is full of questions, among them “How many representatives are there?” and, while checking out the statues and monuments, “Where are all the women?” Maya’s teacher tells her that they’ve seen all the “popular” statues and monuments. Maya is as dogged (“But what about Eleanor Roosevelt? Or Mary McLeod Bethune?”) as her teacher is dismissive: “Those aren’t on my list.” (Maya’s teacher follows the same list every trip.) Back at home, Maya is newly awakened to the lack of female representation in her orbit—she notices that streets and “even her own school” are named for men. Is there anything she can do about this? Maya’s teacher’s cluelessness feels a bit implausible, more like a plot device to steer the story in the right direction, but Maya’s righteous indignation is believable, and her corresponding activism will energize readers. Valdez gets into the spirit of things with her invigorating digital art: Maya and her multiethnic classmates and neighbors are colorful dressers with smiling faces, which fosters a sense that wherever Maya goes, a warm and ebullient community is there for her.
Another empowering outing led by a dynamic young role model. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
ISBN: 9780316561341
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
