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LITTLE HELPER

Name: LITTLE HELPER
Author: Regina Linke
ISBN: 9780316531252

by Regina Linke ; illustrated by Regina Linke ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 5, 2026

A stunning reminder that helping others reaps joyful rewards.

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Author/illustrator Linke digitally re-creates traditional Chinese gongbi and xieyi techniques for this breathtaking story about a young boy who’s quick to lend a helping hand.

Though Ah-Fu may be small, he has a big imagination and a strong sense of confidence. As the book opens, he tells a friendly magpie of his plans “to fly my kite, go for a ride in Grandfather’s oxcart, [and] have a picnic” on this beautiful day. Alas, his kite gets stuck in the branches, and the ox wryly remarks, “Maybe it’s not such a perfect day after all.” When Ah-Fu seeks assistance, however, everyone is too busy, which only makes the child more eager to help out. Cousin Li-Na must prepare sticky rice for the market, Grandfather must run his errands on foot instead of with the oxcart because of a tree blocking the roads, and friend Bo-Lin must return home for his breakfast before he can remove the fallen tree. Struck by inspiration, Ah-Fu shares Li-Na’s sticky rice with Bo-Lin, who quickly clears the road, allowing Grandfather to make Li-Na’s delivery. And Ah-Fu finally gets his perfect day after all. Linke’s thoughtful narrative cleverly reveals the interconnectedness of the villagers’ lives. Her meticulously detailed art—an enhanced realism in gorgeously soft, full color—is a splendiferous delight. Landscapes and characters’ clothing and features suggest a rural Chinese setting.

A stunning reminder that helping others reaps joyful rewards. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: May 5, 2026

ISBN: 9780316531252

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: Feb. 16, 2026

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

- BOOK REVIEW
BIG ENOUGH
by Regina Linke ; illustrated by Regina Linke

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WHY A DAUGHTER NEEDS A MOM

by Gregory R. Lange ; illustrated by Sydney Hanson ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2019

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.

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All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.

Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)

Pub Date: May 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)