A slight story that runs on high but falls flat.
Three title characters in search of a friend.
A bespectacled, ponytailed White kid frantically informs two ducks and one moose who are busy playing cards that Goose is gone. In a state of great agitation, they set out in search on Big Moe, a tractor. On the road, two sheep and a donkey point to the right and send them through a gate. The increasingly befuddled moose, ducks, and kid perilously but unsuccessfully try to retrieve a key but are thwarted by angry wasps that “Sting! / Stang! / Stung!” the crew. Back home in the bathtub and then bed, the bovine and fowl commiserate with one another. But then thrills and happiness erupt as Goose—who has been surfing—returns home. Sharp-eyed readers will, of course, deduce where Goose has been all along from the illustration on the title page. The characters frequently speak in triplicate in the rhyming, dialogue-only text, as in “Run, run, run!” and employ sound effects as in “Baaa, Baaa, Neeeeeigh!” The rhythm and word repetition might appeal to emergent readers, but they will wonder why the kid gets involved in the first place and how it is that the ducks and moose don’t know about Goose’s clearly planned vacation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 55.8% of actual size.)
A slight story that runs on high but falls flat. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: March 23, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-358-31349-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say.
A dog-loving child encourages a less-than-enthusiastic younger one to imagine they’re both canines.
From the first declaration—“I’d be a big dog! And you’d be a little one!”—readers know who’s calling the shots. Initially, the protagonists cavort off the page and through the neighborhood together, performing doggy capers such as tail wagging, stick carrying, and dirt digging. But by the time they encounter a multitude of like-minded creatures at the dog park, the disgruntled small pup is exhibiting out-and-out rebellion: “Being a dog is YOUR idea! Sometimes I HAVE IDEAS TOO!” The narrative wraps up with the younger child pretending to be a different animal entirely—cleverly foreshadowed through subtle details in the illustrations. Even the endpapers—lively silhouettes of dogs in the beginning and many different animals in closing—extend the theme to suggest the imaginative possibilities of pretend play. Cheerful, lightly hued colors fit the whimsical mood, while expressive body language allows the art to tell the story with a minimum of words. Ending on a surprising note, with a sweet compromise between the two main characters, the tale gives both kids the freedom to embrace their own preferences and styles—while still enjoying their game.
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9780316581721
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
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