Thin characterization and an unsatisfying ending make this one to miss.
A bully causes a group of kids to find a solution to their playtime dilemma.
Ever since Emma’s arrival, Ana’s been isolated from her longtime friends, rumored about cruelly, and made to give up her lunches. Fearing the embarrassment of tattling, Ana suffers in silence—until her friends get the same kind of treatment and decide, one by one, to form their own play group. Despite threats, the group grows bigger each day until Emma is left alone and must sheepishly ask to join them all. This timely book about bullying and power dynamics unfortunately falls short on nuance and ends abruptly. The lesson from Spanish author and kindergarten teacher Serrano seems to be that kids should wait a bully out instead of getting an adult involved. And Emma herself is presented only as a frowning ball of anger and spite; it’s unclear what her motivations are and how, as a new kid in school, she was able to take control so easily. What both the English and simultaneously publishing Spanish versions of the book do get right, though, is the feeling of being trapped in an uncontrollable school power dynamic, illustrated with plenty of sweat and frowns. There’s the gulps, the tummy aches, the anxiety of feeling picked on and singled out. Emma presents white, Ana has brown skin, and the other kids are diverse.
Thin characterization and an unsatisfying ending make this one to miss. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Aug. 27, 2019
ISBN: 978-84-17123-46-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: NubeOcho
Review Posted Online: April 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2019
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.
Not even the arrival of autumn can cool down this impetuous squirrel.
Although Squirrel is skeptical about Bird’s vegetable patch (“Nothing is HAPPENING!”), Bird does produce five (count them) lovely pumpkins. Squirrel picks out a favorite: “The enormous orange one.” Bird hints that Squirrel might want to help out; Squirrel sets out to fetch some work gloves and returns to find only four pumpkins. The frequently distracted Squirrel notices more gourds disappearing and leaps to the conclusion that a thief is near. And where’s Bird?! Has Squirrel’s pal also been taken? Diligently detecting, Squirrel finds clues—peck marks, footprints, and more—and produces a sketch of the suspect. As readers will guess, each clue turns out to point to one of Squirrel and Bird’s friends. Turns out Bird was delivering pumpkins to their pals while saving the big one to give to “my very best friend,” Squirrel. But why does Squirrel haul it up a tree? “So the Pumpkin Thief can’t find it, of course!” A page of pumpkin facts provides the learning component common to all titles in this series. Once more, readers will enjoy the pleasure of prediction and repetition, Squirrel’s silly persistence, Bird’s generosity, and the vibrant color illustrations, balancing orange with green.
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781464268076
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2026
Fun times, fond friends, and a festive farmyard setting—little ones will be charmed.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Toad and Little Blue Truck get ready for a hayride.
After the titular vehicle is loaded with hay, Toad is nowhere to be found. “Beep! Beep! Beep! Where are you, Toad?” asks Little Blue Truck. All the barnyard animals look for him. Sheep searches the meadow. Goose and Duck check the pond. Others pitch in, too, but Toad seems to have disappeared…until Hen hears snoring coming from the pile of hay in the back of Little Blue Truck. Although the text’s scansion is imperfect in places (adults may want to pre-read to ensure a smooth read-aloud), the bouncy meter and rhyming text nevertheless capture the energy of the search and the farmyard community’s concern for Toad’s safety, making this a solid storytime choice. Eye-catching illustrations with rich, fully saturated colors balance the right level of detail while still highlighting the animal that is the focus of each verse. By introducing one farm animal at a time, Schertle also helps the youngest readers begin to identify barnyard animals by name and understand their unique farm homes. Traditional animal sounds are part of the text, and listeners will add them to their vocabulary. It all ends with the promised hayride, bringing the tale to a joyous ending.
Fun times, fond friends, and a festive farmyard setting—little ones will be charmed. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2026
ISBN: 9780063436121
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
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