A pitch-perfect antidote to first-day-of-school anxiety that celebrates thoughtful educators and organized spaces.
A meticulous tour of classroom preparation.
Mr. Bee, a trim, bespectacled, brown-skinned teacher in a cozy red cardigan and white sneakers, transforms his packed-up classroom into an inviting learning environment over the course of a week. Oswald’s gouache and colored pencil artwork radiates calm competence as Mr. Bee opens windows, sweeps floors, arranges books spine out, and organizes blocks, dress-up clothes, and art supplies into clearly labeled spaces. The text remains refreshingly spare—just enough to anchor each task without overwhelming young viewers who will want to linger over every detail in each illustration. Oswald uses horizontal lines to depict shelving and furniture, creating stability and order, while cheerful pennant banners and a rainbow alphabet rug introduce movement and energy. Warm earth tones dominate the palette, punctuated by colorful classroom objects including rainbow-colored chairs and school supplies. Mr. Bee’s friendly demeanor (his gentle smile never wavers) and methodical approach model both care and capability. Sharp-eyed readers will track class hamster Yoshi throughout, adding treasure-hunt appeal. The final spread’s arrival of diverse, eager students validates all this loving preparation—and implicitly reassures anxious youngsters that grown-ups are working hard to make their new school feel safe and welcoming.
A pitch-perfect antidote to first-day-of-school anxiety that celebrates thoughtful educators and organized spaces. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
ISBN: 9780316581134
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2026
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily.
A group of young “dinosauruses” go out into the world on their own.
A fuchsia little Hugasaurus and her Pappysaur (both of whom resemble Triceratops) have never been apart before, but Hugasaurus happily heads off with lunchbox in hand and “wonder in her heart” to make new friends. The story has a first-day-of-school feeling, but Hugasaurus doesn’t end up in a formal school environment; rather, she finds herself on a playground with other little prehistoric creatures, though no teacher or adult seems to be around. At first, the new friends laugh and play. But Hugasaurus’ pals begin to squabble, and play comes to a halt. As she wonders what to do, a fuzzy platypus playmate asks some wise questions (“What…would your Pappy say to do? / What makes YOU feel better?”), and Hugasaurus decides to give everyone a hug—though she remembers to ask permission first. Slowly, good humor is restored and play begins anew with promises to be slow to anger and, in general, to help create a kinder world. Short rhyming verses occasionally use near rhyme but also include fun pairs like ripples and double-triples. Featuring cozy illustrations of brightly colored creatures, the tale sends a strong message about appropriate and inappropriate ways to resolve conflict, the final pages restating the lesson plainly in a refrain that could become a classroom motto. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-338-82869-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
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