A simple tale of learning to love yourself that is light on excitement.
In Dee’s children’s book, a young frog saves his village and learns the joy of just being himself after he finds a mysterious flower that grants wishes.
Finley the frog’s older siblings constantly mock him due to his small size and lack of athletic ability. While Finley enjoys reading and singing in the choir, he really wants to be an athlete like his brothers, sisters, and cousin. One day, Finley stumbles across a magic flower with three yellow petals, with each one representing a wish; the young frog immediately wishes to be strong. As he is enjoying his newfound strength in the pond, however, a terrifying water snake begins chasing him, and Finley is snatched up in the jaws of a crow. Finley then wishes to cancel his first wish and returns to normal. Later, constant rains threaten to flood the frogs’ town of Croaksville. Despite the selfish pleas of the mayor and council to save their houses, Finley decides to use his last wish to save all of the frogs’ homes. From then on, Finley is treated with respect and learns to appreciate himself, knowing that, “over time, he would grow bigger and stronger.” Lock’s colorful illustrations employ minimal lines and extensive shading to create simple yet effective images that enhance the plot. Dee incorporates numerous wildlife elements to illustrate Finley’s journey toward self-acceptance, which is sure to appeal to animal enthusiasts, but the transition from Finley’s magical adventure to the rain-flooded rescue feels abrupt. While the book’s overarching theme of loving oneself is admirable, the execution unfortunately falls flat.
A simple tale of learning to love yourself that is light on excitement.Pub Date: April 20, 2026
ISBN: 9798989250714
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Boomi LLC
Review Posted Online: Dec. 2, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
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A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts.
In this latest slice in the Food Group series, Humble Pie learns to stand up to a busy friend who’s taking advantage of his pal’s hard work on the sidelines.
Jake the Cake and Humble Pie are good friends. Where Pie is content to toil in the background, Jake happily shines in the spotlight. Alert readers will notice that Pie’s always right there, too, getting A-pluses and skiing expertly just behind—while also doing the support work that keeps every school and social project humming. “Fact: Nobody notices pie when there’s cake nearby!” When the two friends pair up for a science project, things begin well. But when the overcommitted Jake makes excuse after excuse, showing up late or not at all, a panicked Pie realizes that they won’t finish in time. When Jake finally shows up on the night before the project’s due, Pie courageously confronts him. “And for once, I wasn’t going to sugarcoat it.” The friends talk it out and collaborate through the night for the project’s successful presentation in class the next day. John and Oswald’s winning recipe—plentiful puns and delightful visual jokes—has yielded another treat here. The narration does skew didactic as it wraps up: “There’s nothing wrong with having a tough conversation, asking for help, or making sure you’re being treated fairly.” But it’s all good fun, in service of some gentle lessons about social-emotional development.
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9780063469730
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
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