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THE PUMPKIN SEED

Name: THE PUMPKIN SEED
Author: Poppy O'Neill
ISBN: 9798887773001

by Poppy O'Neill ; illustrated by Brizida Magro ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 8, 2026

An emotionally honest portrait of shifting family dynamics.

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Change is hard but often worth it.

One spring, an overall-clad child (who narrates) and Mom plant a pumpkin seed in a pot filled with soil. The very day it sprouts tiny leaves, Mom’s romantic partner, Sam, moves in, bringing with her a “strange box with no bottom”—a compost bin that elicits a “yuck” from the youngster. Things are a bit rocky, but everyone enjoys working together in the garden. The pumpkin plant flourishes, and soon it’s time to plant it into the ground. Carrying it to the garden, the narrator stumbles. Sam rushes to help, but the child explodes in a torrent of accusations: “You hurt my knee and broke my pumpkin plant and I wish you’d never come to live here!” Sam is calmly sympathetic; she salvages the plant and points out that compost from the bin “will help the pumpkins grow big and delicious.” O’Neill uses concrete, garden-themed metaphors to convey the child’s complex emotional landscape: The youngster initially feels “all squished” when everyone piles onto the bench in the garden; the long wait until the pumpkins grow offers a satisfying parallel with the patience required when a family adds a new member. Magro’s appealing, mostly realistic button-eyed characters in colorful settings pair well with the text. Mom and the child are brown-skinned and dark-haired; bespectacled Sam is pale-skinned and red-haired.

An emotionally honest portrait of shifting family dynamics. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026

ISBN: 9798887773001

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Nosy Crow

Review Posted Online: June 1, 2026

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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THERE'S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM

by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2022

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads.

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Emma deals with jitters before playing the guitar in the school talent show.

Pop musician Kevin Jonas and his wife, Danielle, put performance at the center of their picture-book debut. When Emma is intimidated by her very talented friends, the encouragement of her younger sister, Bella, and the support of her family help her to shine her own light. The story is straightforward and the moral familiar: Draw strength from your family and within to overcome your fears. Employing the performance-anxiety trope that’s been written many times over, the book plods along predictably—there’s nothing really new or surprising here. Dawson’s full-color digital illustrations center a White-presenting family along with Emma’s three friends of color: Jamila has tanned skin and wears a hijab; Wendy has dark brown skin and Afro puffs; and Luis has medium brown skin. Emma’s expressive eyes and face are the real draw of the artwork—from worry to embarrassment to joy, it’s clear what she’s feeling. A standout double-page spread depicts Emma’s talent show performance, with a rainbow swirl of music erupting from an amp and Emma rocking a glam outfit and electric guitar. Overall, the book reads pretty plainly, buoyed largely by the artwork. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Nice enough but not worth repeat reads. (Picture book. 4-6)

Pub Date: March 29, 2022

ISBN: 978-0-593-35207-6

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Razorbill/Penguin

Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022

Categories:

CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

- BOOK REVIEW
THERE'S A BEACH IN MY BEDROOM
by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas ; illustrated by Courtney Dawson

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I GOT YOU

by Derrick Barnes ; illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 15, 2025

Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind.

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When Mom and Dad bring baby Rasheed home for the first time, it’s love at first sight for big brother Anthony.

As the boys grow, Anthony teaches his little sibling how to build a tower with blocks (and how to knock it down with a loud “WHOP!!!”), how to ride a bike, and even how to fly (through a well-timed leap from the swings). When thunder and lightning wake them both one night, Anthony assuages Rasheed’s fears with the book’s titular refrain: “I got you.” But one day Anthony goes for a bike ride with his friends, leaving Rasheed alone and hurt. That night, Anthony explains that while he may spend time with his peers, his bond with Rasheed is unbreakable. And as the book comes to a close, with Mom and Dad introducing the boys to their new little sibling, Anthony leaves Rasheed with perhaps the greatest lesson of all: how to be a supportive big brother himself. Narrated by Rasheed, Barnes’ text is elegant in its simplicity, loving yet never saccharine, and always emotionally honest. Using varied perspectives, Knight-Justice’s richly hued, collagelike digital illustrations combine a patchwork of textures and patterns, immersing readers in this affectionate Black family’s world. Greens and blues dominate the pages, bringing to life an idyllic suburban setting.

Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind. (Picture book. 4-8)