A delightful animal tale of friendship, adaptability, and resilience.
A reluctant crocodile finds a surprising new home in this picture book.
After Fred discovers the riverbed where he lives has dried up, he leaves in search of a more hospitable place. But after passing “grasslands…mountains, and forests and deserts of sand,” the crocodile loses hope. Fred begins to “weep…blubber and cry” for five days. On the sixth day, Fred—who still feels “blubbery and blue”—is approached by a frog who asks if he’s all right. Fred answers: “I’m as sad as can be. I’ve lost my home” and am “stuck in this desert that’s drier than bone.” After the frog tells the crocodile to open his eyes, Fred sees “the grandest river he ever saw.” The frog, who understands the importance of embracing change, says: “This river you’ve cried should be called ‘Crocodile Tears.’ ” Fred grows to love his new environs, particularly the animals. He realizes that “home…is not just a place,” but “a feeling of warmth deep inside, of happiness and joy and friends by your side.” This sweet story emphasizes essential lessons about change and personal development. While Kaushik’s tale shows that moving and getting used to new things can be challenging, Fred’s experience highlights ways to make the adjustments brighter and more comfortable, particularly through cultivating new friendships. The author’s adorable, full-color illustrations offer fun outdoor habitats featuring greenery and mountain backdrops. The cute critters have appealing features like vibrant smiles and big eyes.
A delightful animal tale of friendship, adaptability, and resilience.Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2021
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 26
Publisher: Meg & Company
Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending.
Don’t let the Pigeon ruin his own special day!
Anyone who has ever encountered the title character in any of his books—whether his first, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (2003), or one of its many sequels—will understand that the bird’s innate self-love drives his every interaction. Little wonder, then, that he’s thrilled about his own “bird-day.” He has the hat. He has his “FANCY PLUMAGE.” And, best of all, he will get to blow out a candle “on my bird-day hot dog!” As he revels in the knowledge that this day is all for him, comeuppance is lurking. Someone has already blown out the bird-day candle—and eaten half the hot dog. It turns out that the Pigeon’s frenemy, the Duckling, has the same bird-day—as do a slew of newly hatched chicks. The Pigeon’s obligatory eight-panel freakout ensues. “What am I—invisible? I just want to be seen,” he whimpers, and when he receives some much-needed reassurance, he settles down and willingly shares his special day. While the switch from unapologetic narcissism to mature acceptance happens in the record-breaking span of two pages, the book is as enchanting as the Pigeon’s earlier outings. Even as it walks in the footsteps of its predecessors, there’s no denying the fun to be had.
Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
ISBN: 9781454999621
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
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