Gentle guidance for kids seeking to stay true to themselves.
Licensed therapist and bestselling author Tawwab offers words of wisdom to young people-pleasers.
Avery, a young Black girl with long curly hair, loves to make people happy—so much so that she often puts others’ needs before her own. When it comes time to plan her birthday party, she asks friends and family what she should do. Her friend Simone suggests going to an amusement park. Rides make Avery queasy, but she wants Simone to have fun, so she considers it. Avery’s brother wants a superhero theme. Avery doesn’t particularly like superheroes, but others might, so she decides that it’s a possibility. Kylie asks a question that makes Avery pause: “What kind of party sounds fun for you?” Avery doesn’t consider her own feelings very often, so she’s not sure what to choose. With eyes shut tight, she eventually lands on the perfect theme for her party. Bradley’s generous use of pastels softens the turmoil that Avery faces while also employing fuzzy-edged thought bubbles to highlight her introspection. Tawwab includes a note to caregivers at the end to help kids find their own voices. Guiding questions, affirmations, and simple scripts will help children and adults become more comfortable with growing their own self-confidence. Avery’s classmates are a diverse bunch.
Gentle guidance for kids seeking to stay true to themselves. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2025
ISBN: 9780593620250
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Rocky Pond Books/Penguin
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2025
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind.
The cool beans again step up to do a timorous fellow legume a fava…this time at the pool.
Will a rash decision to tackle the multistory super-slide lead to another embarrassing watery fail for our shy protagonist? Nope, for up the stairs right behind comes a trio of cool beans, each a different type and color, all clad in nothing but dark shades. They make an offer: “It’s not as scary if you go with friends!” As the knobby nerd explains once the thrilling ride down is done, “They all realized that I just needed some encouragement and support.” Just to make sure that both cool and uncool readers get the message, the narrator lets us know that “there are plenty of kind folks who have my back. They’re always there when I need them.” The beany bonhomie doesn’t end at the bottom of the slide, with all gliding down to the shallow end of the pool (“3 INCHES. NO DIVING”) for a splashy finale. This latest early reader starring characters from John and Oswald’s immensely popular Food Group series will be a hit with fans. Fun accessories, such as a bean who rocks pink cat-eye frames, add some pizzazz to the chromatically and somatotypically varied cast.
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind. (Easy reader. 5-7)Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9780063329560
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 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.
