THE CAT, THE OWL AND THE FRESH FISH

Name: THE CAT, THE OWL AND THE FRESH FISH
Author: Nadine Robert
ISBN: 978-1-990252-17-4

by Nadine Robert ; illustrated by Sang Miao ; translated by Catherine Ostiguy & Nick Frost ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 14, 2023

Aesop himself would be pleased with this original parable of brains outsmarting greed.

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This owl and pussycat won’t be sailing away together anytime soon, and readers wouldn’t have it any other way.

Anchored in the center of a small pond sits a rowboat with a basket of fish. When hungry Gray Cat comes along, a nearby owl offers to make a deal: If Gray Cat will only remove the log trapping the owl’s claw, the owl will tell the cat who owns the boat and fish. Alas, the covetous kitty has eyes only for the delicious prize, so the owl starts telling tall tales. When the owl says it saw a rock “moving toward the pond as if it had legs,” Gray Cat decides to use a rock as a steppingstone. Next the owl claims to have seen both a bucket and then a crate moving toward the boat, and Gray Cat uses them to get closer. And when the owl mentions a log, the cat unthinkingly frees the bird’s claw…and finally the true owner of the fish is revealed. Gouache, watercolor, and pencil give this tale, translated from French, a classic, almost old-fashioned look in the vein of the early Little Golden Books, albeit with some heady design choices. Meanwhile, the smartly led storytelling eschews moralizing in favor of letting actions speak for themselves. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Aesop himself would be pleased with this original parable of brains outsmarting greed. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Feb. 14, 2023

ISBN: 978-1-990252-17-4

Page Count: 36

Publisher: Milky Way Picture Books

Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ACTION & ADVENTURE FICTION | CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

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THE WALK OF THE FIELD MOUSE
by Nadine Robert ; illustrated by Valerio Vidali

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CLOVER
by Nadine Robert ; illustrated by Qin Leng translated by Nick Frost & Catherine Ostiguy

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ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FOREST
by Nadine Robert ; illustrated by Gérard DuBois ; translated by Paula Ayer

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IT'S MY BIRD-DAY!

From the Pigeon series

by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2026

Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending.

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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

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

- BOOK REVIEW
THE MONSTER AND PUPPET SHOW!
by Mo Willems & Kate Micucci ; illustrated by Mo Willems & Kate Micucci

- BOOK REVIEW
THE PIGEON WON'T COUNT TO 10!
by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems

- BOOK REVIEW
WILL THE PIGEON GRADUATE?
by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems

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HEDGEHOGS DON'T WEAR UNDERWEAR

by Marissa Valdez ; illustrated by Marissa Valdez ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2025

Sure to have little ones giggling.

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Jacques is a hedgehog with a big secret: “I wear real, bona fide underwear.”

Our narrator received a mysterious package one day; an illustration shows a pair of underwear tied to a balloon with a note “from the Universe” floating down into Jacques’ burrow. Hedgehogs don’t wear underwear, however. Will Jacques be shunned? Jacques worries but comes to a decision: “I have to wear them. When I do I feel special.” Determined, Jacques, who’s been invited to a party, makes a dramatic entrance, with undies in hand. Jacques’ declaration (“I WEAR UNDERWEAR”) is met with remarks of dismay, before another hedgehog opens up about similar fears and shows off a pair of cowboy boots. More hedgehogs introduce themselves with their own confessions. The story ends with Jacques unveiling a painting of the underwear in a gallery filled with hedgehogs wearing all sorts of attire. Though the book is simple in plot, characters, and setting, it wins in its balance of bathroom humor, dramatic storytelling, and celebrations of individual expression. French words are peppered throughout, adding to the fun without detracting from the story for those unfamiliar with the language. The cartoonish illustrations brim with fun; Valdez relies heavily on geometric shapes (triangle noses for the hedgehogs; huge circles for their eyes). Details such as speech bubbles and recurring turtle and snake characters contribute to the outlandish humor.

Sure to have little ones giggling. (Picture book. 3-5)