Valuable takeaway for neurodivergent kids, though the execution is a mixed bag.
A diverse group of kids are welcomed to the ADHD clubhouse.
In rhyming verse, the Holdernesses teach kids with ADHD about the special ways their brains work while also introducing them to Bill Gates, Simone Biles, and other luminaries who have had this condition. Verse and images depict youngsters cavorting at a treehouse getaway: “This is our club, and now you’re a member.” The kids discuss the downsides (“Sometimes we are squirmy, sometimes we’re forgetful”) as well as the positives, like creativity and spontaneity. The authors also throw in a few traits thrown in that seem only tenuously related to ADHD, such as loyalty and open-mindedness. Many kids will feel seen and may learn a few things about seeing their diagnosis as a benefit rather than a problem to be overcome. It’s also clear that the Holdernesses know their audience; it’s easy to envision kids gleefully screaming “fart!” when prompted by the text. Vogel’s illustrations are fun and colorful, depicting a diverse group of children. On the other hand, the scansion is often awkward. This, along with repetitive meter and the lengthy text, makes the book lag in the latter half. While this title is full of supportive messages, most of the really useful information is relegated to the backmatter, where some young readers may not absorb it. Children with ADHD would likely benefit from exposure to the ideas in this book, but it’s more of a conversation starter than a title they’ll reach for repeatedly.
Valuable takeaway for neurodivergent kids, though the execution is a mixed bag. (authors’ notes, more information on ADHD) (Informational picture book. 5-9)Pub Date: Oct. 14, 2025
ISBN: 9780316597678
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Nov. 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2025
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists.
How to raise money for a coveted poster: put your friends to work!
John, founder of the FUBU fashion line and a Shark Tank venture capitalist, offers a self-referential blueprint for financial success. Having only half of the $10 he needs for a Minka J poster, Daymond forks over $1 to buy a plain T-shirt, paints a picture of the pop star on it, sells it for $5, and uses all of his cash to buy nine more shirts. Then he recruits three friends to decorate them with his design and help sell them for an unspecified amount (from a conveniently free and empty street-fair booth) until they’re gone. The enterprising entrepreneur reimburses himself for the shirts and splits the remaining proceeds, which leaves him with enough for that poster as well as a “brand-new business book,” while his friends express other fiscal strategies: saving their share, spending it all on new art supplies, or donating part and buying a (math) book with the rest. (In a closing summation, the author also suggests investing in stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrency.) Though Miles cranks up the visual energy in her sparsely detailed illustrations by incorporating bright colors and lots of greenbacks, the actual advice feels a bit vague. Daymond is Black; most of the cast are people of color. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists. (Picture book. 7-9)Pub Date: March 21, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-56727-2
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
Another empowering outing led by a dynamic young role model.
The third title in the Ambitious Girl series finds young Maya wanting accomplished women to get their due.
On a school trip to Washington, D.C., brown-skinned, bubble-braided Maya is full of questions, among them “How many representatives are there?” and, while checking out the statues and monuments, “Where are all the women?” Maya’s teacher tells her that they’ve seen all the “popular” statues and monuments. Maya is as dogged (“But what about Eleanor Roosevelt? Or Mary McLeod Bethune?”) as her teacher is dismissive: “Those aren’t on my list.” (Maya’s teacher follows the same list every trip.) Back at home, Maya is newly awakened to the lack of female representation in her orbit—she notices that streets and “even her own school” are named for men. Is there anything she can do about this? Maya’s teacher’s cluelessness feels a bit implausible, more like a plot device to steer the story in the right direction, but Maya’s righteous indignation is believable, and her corresponding activism will energize readers. Valdez gets into the spirit of things with her invigorating digital art: Maya and her multiethnic classmates and neighbors are colorful dressers with smiling faces, which fosters a sense that wherever Maya goes, a warm and ebullient community is there for her.
Another empowering outing led by a dynamic young role model. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
ISBN: 9780316561341
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2025
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