Friendship flourishes beautifully in this enchanting seasonal snapshot.
Bird and Spider help an overheated worm.
When we last left Bird and Spider, the pair were singing Bird’s springtime song of friendship, seeking a BFF for Bird, and building their own bond in the process. Summer finds them languishing on their cherry tree branch, bemoaning the sun’s oppressive glare. Spider weaves two parasols, and the sweet relief of their shade allows the duo to perform their friendship song once more. A worm sweltering on the ground nearby hears them and calls out for help. After an exchange echoing the first book’s skeptical confrontation (“Some birds like to EAT worms.” “Bird doesn’t eat worms.” “You aren’t going to BITE me, are you?” “Spider isn’t like other spiders”), Bird and Spider assuage Worm’s fears by offering their parasols and explaining their friend-finding mission. They all head to Worm’s cool underground home, where Worm opens up about how difficult it is to find friends as a slimy subterranean creature. Bird and Spider sympathize and invite Worm to join their friendship song and dance by banging on a drum. Similar to the previous volume, this summertime story visually spotlights the season. Bird and Spider’s tree is heavy-laden with fruit and leaves, grass grows high, and the sky glows a deep-hued yellow. The dialogue balances sweetness with whimsy. One wonders what friend autumn might bring—could the cat lolling and listening nearby possibly turn the trio into a quartet?
Friendship flourishes beautifully in this enchanting seasonal snapshot. (Graphic early reader. 4-7)Pub Date: May 5, 2026
ISBN: 9798765648148
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Graphic Universe
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
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