A wacky fairy story with wide appeal that’s sure to give readers the giggles—and leave them craving chips.
A boy is surprised to discover that fairies aren’t always what one might expect.
Spencer wants to trap a fairy, but Mariah knows about these creatures and tells him he’ll never catch one (“They’re for beautiful little girls like me”). When Spencer traps a real one, he’s shocked to learn that some fairies have luscious brown fur and an insatiable desire for chips. Though the “Bear Fairy” is a rather disruptive house guest, Spencer endures the chaos because he can’t wait to prove to Mariah he’s caught a real fairy. But Mariah has a not-so-nice response to Spencer’s magical new pal. Per Mariah, the “pudgy,” hirsute Bear Fairy doesn’t measure up. But Spencer stands up for his unconventional fairy friend, declaring, “He is MY fairy. And he’s perfect the way he is.” Mixing text passages and speech bubbles, this story is packed with puns and silliness. The characters have expressive faces, and the brightly colored, scribbly cartoon art is lively with movement, as when Spencer and the fairy play at the park or during the debate about how fairies should look. With its loving message of inclusivity, this book will be a hit with preschool and early grade school readers, and adult readers will probably have a few laughs, too. Spencer is pale-skinned and red-haired; Mariah has light brown skin and dark hair.
A wacky fairy story with wide appeal that’s sure to give readers the giggles—and leave them craving chips. (Picture book. 3-8)Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
ISBN: 9781774885581
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2025
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.
Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)Pub Date: May 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019
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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