More of the same, but here that’s a good thing.
Stink returns to battle arachnophobia.
Judy Moody’s little brother, Stink, returns for another scientific adventure, this time battling his long-held fear of spiders. After crafting a jumping origami frog, Stink brings his project to the backyard to give it a test hop. Stink’s frog leaps out of sight, and while looking for it, Stink comes across a hairy, pink-toed spider. A timorous Stink seeks out Judy’s help to find his origami frog, and Judy does him one better: The siblings put in the work to cure Stink of his fear. Those familiar with the Judy Moody and Stink books will find more of the same here, with Reynolds’ broad, round illustrations accompanying McDonald’s charmingly optimistic characters. Newcomers will be able to slide in with ease; there’s no extensive backstory here to wade through—just some quirky kids dealing with a common fear. The reading level is pitched to those just beginning to dip their toes in the chapter-book pool. Judy and Stink are white, but there’s a bit of diversity in the supporting cast. The book includes origami instructions in its end pages.
More of the same, but here that’s a good thing. (Fiction. 7-11)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5362-0920-4
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
We challenge anyone to read this and keep a straight face.
Four misunderstood villains endeavor to turn over a new leaf…or a new rap sheet in Blabey's frenzied romp.
As readers open the first page of this early chapter book, Mr. Wolf is right there to greet them, bemoaning his reputation. "Just because I've got BIG POINTY TEETH and RAZOR-SHARP CLAWS and I occasionally like to dress up like an OLD LADY, that doesn't mean… / … I'm a BAD GUY." To prove this very fact, Mr. Wolf enlists three equally slandered friends into the Good Guys Club: Mr. Snake (aka the Chicken Swallower), Mr. Piranha (aka the Butt Biter), and Mr. Shark (aka Jaws). After some convincing from Mr. Wolf, the foursome sets off determined to un-smirch their names (and reluctantly curbing their appetites). Although these predators find that not everyone is ready to be at the receiving end of their helpful efforts, they use all their Bad Guy know-how to manage a few hilarious good deeds. Blabey has hit the proverbial nail on the head, kissed it full on the mouth, and handed it a stick of Acme dynamite. With illustrations that startle in their manic comedy and deadpan direct address and with a narrative that follows four endearingly sardonic characters trying to push past (sometimes successfully) their fear-causing natures, this book instantly joins the classic ranks of Captain Underpants and The Stinky Cheese Man.
We challenge anyone to read this and keep a straight face. (Fiction. 7-11)Pub Date: Jan. 3, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-545-91240-2
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 18, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An endearing, deeply moving story of healing.
A runaway former shelter dog and an orphaned cheetah cub bond in friendship.
Chase the cheetah cub, grieving for her mother, is nurtured and bottle-fed by zoo employee Basma Abdallah. Finnegan the dog, injured by a fox after being chased off by his angry former owner, is found and cared for by Basma’s partner, Ryan. Warga’s gentle tale of animal comradeship focuses firmly on the experiences of each animal protagonist, letting their personalities inform the story. Finnegan’s memories of his previous home are tinged with internalized guilt after being labeled a “bad dog.” He’s amusingly food-focused and knows a bit about the world from watching television and seeing pictures in books. He dislikes cats and has opinions about rabbits and squirrels. When Basma brings Finnegan with her to work at the zoo, he overcomes his feline aversions and warms to the cub, finding her puffy baby fur and clumsiness appealing. The friendship between the creatures is warmly empathetic. Finnegan takes a benign, big-brotherly role, encouraging Chase to trust Basma’s clicker training, part of a demonstration for zoo audiences to support the Cheetah Conservation Fund. Chase, in her turn, reminds Finnegan that he’s cared for and that she’s his friend and part of his family. To’s soft, tender black-and-white illustrations perfectly complement the sweet, sometimes heart-wrenching narrative. Basma is cued Palestinian American, and Ryan reads white.
An endearing, deeply moving story of healing. (animal facts, author’s note, resources) (Fiction. 7-11)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
ISBN: 9781250387189
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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