An initially frightening fairy tale with an upbeat message.
In Kane’s picture book, a young boy is the only one in his village who doesn’t fear the nearby Spooky Forest.
A small village is nestled on the edge of a scary wilderness, where trees have red eyes and shadows move by themselves. The adults are too scared to enter it, but a boy named Leo isn’t frightened; he wants to explore the forest with his dog, Snaggle. One night, the pair wander into the woods with a lantern, walk past the glowing eyes of trees and animals, and continue on; a whispering voice in the wind says that “only the brave” can enter a secret door, which leads to an unexpected place. Burton’s illustrations have a Germanic aspect, which may remind readers of such tales as “Hansel and Gretel.” The story has some spooky elements and images that may frighten very young readers, such as a green, smirking, elven figure, revealed as the keeper of the forest, and small animals with aggressively bright eyes. However, the tale’s message is positive and light, urging readers to be kind and brave, and to be aware that not everything that seems frightening is necessarily nefarious; sometimes, even scary creatures can be silly and kind. (Leo is portrayed with pale skin; other villagers have a range of skin tones.)
An initially frightening fairy tale with an upbeat message.Pub Date: Aug. 14, 2025
ISBN: 9781966675273
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Solander Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 29, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn.
A young owl achieves his grand ambition.
Owl, an adorably earnest and gallant little owlet, dreams of being a knight. He imagines himself defeating dragons and winning favor far and wide through his brave exploits. When a record number of knights go missing, Owl applies to Knight School and is surprisingly accepted. He is much smaller than the other knights-in-training, struggles to wield weapons, and has “a habit of nodding off during the day.” Nevertheless, he graduates and is assigned to the Knight Night Watch. While patrolling the castle walls one night, a hungry dragon shows up and Owl must use his wits to avoid meeting a terrible end. The result is both humorous and heartwarming, offering an affirmation of courage and clear thinking no matter one’s size…and demonstrating the power of a midnight snack. The story never directly addresses the question of the missing knights, but it is hinted that they became the dragon’s fodder, leaving readers to question Owl’s decision to befriend the beast. Humor is supplied by the characters’ facial expressions and accented by the fact that Owl is the only animal in his order of big, burly human knights. Denise’s accomplished digital illustrations—many of which are full bleeds—often use a warm sepia palette that evokes a feeling of antiquity, and some spreads feature a pleasing play of chiaroscuro that creates suspense and drama.
A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-31062-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2022
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