Hysterical fun to share with the older siblings of all the Nudie Rudys out there, and for those Nudie Rudys as they outgrow...
When bathtime is over, the whole family pitches in to help catch “Nudie Rudy,” who hides to delay having to get dressed.
Rudy is an adorable one-toothed toddler who just loves to be naked. As he dashes through each room of the house, more and more family members good-naturedly join in the chase to corral him and put his clothes on. They run fast, but Rudy somehow manages to evade them with his gymnastic feats, ability to find great hiding spots and his shouted mantra, “Nudie Rudy!” By the end, Mom and Dad, brother and sister and grandma and grandpa have all joined in the chase. But by then, another burst of independence has transformed the tot from Nudie Rudy to Cutie Rudy, and the family gathers round to shower him with love. With yellows, blues and oranges predominating, the colors and style of Nash’s digital illustrations lend them a retro ’70s feel. Clever placement of props and body parts allow Nudie Rudy some semblance of privacy, although there are glimpses of his bare bottom: Be prepared for uproarious giggles.
Hysterical fun to share with the older siblings of all the Nudie Rudys out there, and for those Nudie Rudys as they outgrow this stage…but parents beware the power of suggestion and urge to imitate. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4169-9148-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Aladdin
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2011
A tale of mutual adoration that hits a sweet note.
Little Honey Bunny Funnybunny loves baseball almost as much as she loves her big brother P.J.—though it’s a close-run thing.
Readers familiar with the pranks P.J. plays on his younger sibling in older episodes of the series (most illustrated by Roger Bollen) will be amused—and perhaps a little confused—to see him in the role of perfect big brother after meeting his swaddled little sister for the first time in mama’s lap. But here, along with being a constant companion and “always happy to see her,” he cements his heroic status in her eyes by hitting a home run for his baseball team and then patiently teaching her how to play T-ball. After carefully coaching her and leading her through warm-up exercises, he even sits in the stands, loudly cheering her on as she scores the winning run in her own very first game. “‘You are the best brother a bunny could ever have!’” she burbles. This tale’s a tad blander compared with others centered on P.J. and his sister, but it’s undeniably cheery, with text well structured for burgeoning readers. The all-smiles animal cast in Bowers’ cartoon art features a large and diversely hued family of bunnies sporting immense floppy ears as well as a multispecies crowd of furry onlookers equally varied of color, with one spectator in a wheelchair.
A tale of mutual adoration that hits a sweet note. (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: Jan. 6, 2026
ISBN: 9798217032464
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.
Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.
Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: March 29, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
