A marvelous mammalian mafia comedy that models friendship and healthy emotionality.
A ferret and a corgi team up to thwart crime at a dog show.
Fil the ferret belongs to the Furetto crime family, caretakers of the Jon Bon Jovi Arena in Hackensack, New Jersey—though he’d rather whip up the perfect souffle than pick locks. But Uncle Giuseppe promises to let Fil pursue his culinary ambitions if he can keep the arena safe in the family’s absence. That will be no small feat: A plot to sabotage the Baskerville Dog Show (the arena’s biggest event) is targeting Dot, a sassy, fashion-loving corgi favored to win. After Fil warns Dot, the duo investigate and quickly discover the culprits: the Vesle Gang, aka the Wisconsin Weasels, who are moving in on Furetto territory. The story includes colorful rival dogs and their snooty, overcompetitive humans, and weasel schemes that start off silly (itching powder) but become more serious threats. Recaps, helpful for young readers taking the narrative in chapter by chapter, center the characters’ emotional reaction to story developments; the writing throughout is as kid-friendly as the comedic content. The heart of the narrative is Fil and Dot’s bond, built on mutual empathy and support for each other’s passions. The ferrets are Italian-coded, the weasels Scandinavian, and Dot’s human, Inéz, Latine. Occasional spotlight art from Jessell is appropriately adorable.
A marvelous mammalian mafia comedy that models friendship and healthy emotionality. (Fiction. 7-12)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
ISBN: 9780063134768
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Storytide/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Utterly believable, this bittersweet story, complete with an author’s note identifying the real Ivan, will inspire a new...
How Ivan confronts his harrowing past yet stays true to his nature exemplifies everything youngsters need to know about courage.
Living in a "domain" of glass, metal and cement at the Big Top Mall, Ivan sometimes forgets whether to act like a gorilla or a human—except Ivan does not think much of humans. He describes their behavior as frantic, whereas he is a peaceful artist. Fittingly, Ivan narrates his tale in short, image-rich sentences and acute, sometimes humorous, observations that are all the more heartbreaking for their simple delivery. His sorrow is palpable, but he stoically endures the cruelty of humans until Ruby the baby elephant is abused. In a pivotal scene, Ivan finally admits his domain is a cage, and rather than let Ruby live and die in grim circumstances, he promises to save her. In order to express his plea in a painting, Ivan must bravely face buried memories of the lush jungle, his family and their brutal murder, which is recounted in a brief, powerful chapter sure to arouse readers’ passions. In a compelling ending, the more challenging question Applegate poses is whether or not Ivan will remember what it was like to be a gorilla. Spot art captures poignant moments throughout.
Utterly believable, this bittersweet story, complete with an author’s note identifying the real Ivan, will inspire a new generation of advocates. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Jan. 17, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-06-199225-4
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2011
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
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