Full of empathy and friendship, this appealing tale invites readers to a yard party.
A dog celebrates friendship with her human family and canine pals in this third installment of a picture-book series.
Lovable Lucy, a small pooch who looks like an English toy spaniel, isn’t sure why her humans are getting out all their pool and water equipment for something they call a “Barkyard Bash.” But she soon realizes they’re having a party, and all the neighbor dogs are coming, too. The large cast of canines and humans can make it hard to keep track of the jam-packed bash, both in the illustrations and the text. But that reflects the chaos of the party. And despite the number of friends present, Lovable Lucy manages to find time to comfort all the pals who need support. Reluctant to stop the fun, Lucy and her humans continue the splashing even after the neighbors have departed. As the family reflects, Lucy decides: “Most of all, I love having all my friends together.” Roth and Penn use accessible vocabulary in Lucy’s voice to tell the enjoyable story but never fall into the conceit that dogs can actually talk to humans. The only people hearing Lucy’s commentary are readers. The pooch’s neighborhood is clearly a loving one, full of a diverse cast—both human and canine—beautifully depicted in Hernandez’s digital illustrations. A deaf character, who signs in the images, is further represented in an American Sign Language glossary for some of the book’s terms.
Full of empathy and friendship, this appealing tale invites readers to a yard party.Pub Date: July 15, 2023
ISBN: 9781737663065
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Wag Your Tale Press
Review Posted Online: June 30, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren.
In talk-show host Fallon and illustrator Ordóñez’s latest picture-book collaboration, an elderly pooch waxes rhapsodic about a life well lived.
Observing Papa sitting in his chair watching TV all day, a young pup says, “I’m starting to think…you don’t do ANYTHING.” So Papa proceeds to list his accomplishments, both big and small, mundane and profound. Some are just a result of being older and physically bigger (being tall enough to reach a high shelf and strong enough to open jars); others include winning a race and performing in a band when he was younger. Eventually, the pup realizes that while Papa may have slowed down in his old age, he’s led a full life. The most satisfying thing about Papa’s life now? Watching his grandchild take center stage: “I can say lots of thoughts / but I choose to be quiet. / I’d rather you discover things and then try it.” Fallon’s straightforward text is sweetly upbeat, though it occasionally lacks flow, forcing incongruous situations together to fit the rhyme scheme (“I cook and I mow, / and I once flew a plane. // I play newspaper puzzles because it’s good for my brain”). Featuring uncluttered, colorful backgrounds, Ordóñez’s child-friendly digital art at times takes on sepia tones, evoking the sense of looking back at old photos or memories. Though the creators tread familiar ground, the love between Papa and his little one is palpable.
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781250393975
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
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