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SHU LIN'S GRANDPA

Name: SHU LIN'S GRANDPA
Author: Matt Goodfellow
ISBN: 978-1-5362-2315-6

by Matt Goodfellow ; illustrated by Yu Rong ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 13, 2022

Empathetic but subtle storytelling.

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Being the new kid isn’t easy.

Shu Lin, in her bright yellow rain boots and pink coat, arrives at school. “She didn’t speak English very well,” readers are informed. At recess, she stands at the edge of the playground despite an invite to jump rope. At lunch, stares continue as Shu Lin unpacks her lunch. Narrator Dylan, who was also the new kid once, remembers that feeling of not being at home while observing the interactions between Shu Lin and the other kids. When Shu Lin’s grandpa arrives in class one day to share his paintings, some students are skeptical. Barney, who throughout offers especially pointed remarks about Shu Lin, asks, “What’s the point if he can’t even speak English?” But Shu Lin’s grandpa’s art speaks volumes. When he leaves, the students try their hands at their own ink drawings. Here, Shu Lin opens up, showing her inexperienced classmates how to hold a brush properly and how to make smooth strokes. By the end of the school day, classmates share smiles and laughs. This is a simple narrative that leaves a quiet impression. Yu's selective use of solid colors and pattern-blocking among the sketched-drawing style brings focus to specific characters and their expressions. A gatefold of Shu Lin’s grandpa’s inky landscape painting invites readers into the classroom alongside the characters. Shu Lin and her grandfather are cued Chinese; other students, including Dylan and Barney, are depicted as light-skinned.

Empathetic but subtle storytelling. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-5362-2315-6

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Candlewick

Review Posted Online: July 12, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2022

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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READ ALL ABOUT IT!

by Benjamin Hall ; illustrated by Martina Motzo ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 3, 2026

Visually sweet, though hampered by disjointed storytelling.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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MAYA'S BIG QUESTION

From the Ambitious Girl series , Vol. 3

by Meena Harris ; illustrated by Marissa Valdez ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 3, 2026

Another empowering outing led by a dynamic young role model.

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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)