A useful resource on becoming independent, the change of seasons, and the forest habitat
A mother fox cares for her kit, Little Fox, during its first year.
The mother, who narrates, knows that Little Fox is old enough now to learn to explore their woodland habitat, though she promises to stay close by during Little Fox’s first year. On a day in spring, she watches as Little Fox explores a stream where tadpoles swim and frogs peek out from under lily pads. In summer, mother and kit romp through meadows of flowers, and as the weather turns brisk in autumn, she waits as Little Fox discovers the fun of playing in the fallen leaves. However, once the winter snows arrive, the narrator realizes her kit has grown and has learned enough that her care is no longer needed. Little Fox is ready to be alone—but there’s the reassurance that, if needed, mother can always be found at her den. Chrustowski’s simple, rhyming text lends a soft tone to a parent’s bittersweet understanding that, if parenting is done right, the young one will leave to succeed on his or her own. Readers will enjoy the bright colors of the detailed illustrations, done in watercolor with pastel pencil detail, which often incorporate key words. Mushrooms on the forest floor spell out “year,” while lily pads’ dangling roots spell out “day.”
A useful resource on becoming independent, the change of seasons, and the forest habitat . (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 9, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4814-6961-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 19, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2017
Cats and water may not usually mix, but this pleasing combination yields a fur-tunate lesson.
A feline who’s vehemently opposed to swimming has a change of perspective.
“Nice and warm and dry.” That’s Serafina! While her friends enjoy prancing in puddles on rainy days, this little kitten is more than content to play indoors. She “hates, loathes, DESPISES WATER.” All well and good until “The Powers That Be” (aka her parents) declare swimming lessons mandatory. Wholly convinced she can still get out of swim class, Serafina is aghast when her cherished stuffed bunny, Noodles, is accidentally knocked into the water. While rescuing her beloved, however, Serafina discovers that she adores the sensation of water after all. Now she’s a complete convert and a “vision of glistening PURR-FECTION!” Disgust could not find a worthier muse than Serafina, and Rosenthal’s digital illustrations adeptly play up her utter horror as well as her miraculous conversion to all things damp. That said, the true star of the show is the book’s loquacious text. Burgess plumbs Serafina’s inherent repugnance for water with delectable phrases, describing a pool as “a disgusting pit of seething water.” So delicious is her revulsion that it’s almost a pity when she takes that extra step and tries something new.
Cats and water may not usually mix, but this pleasing combination yields a fur-tunate lesson. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
ISBN: 9780593699638
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
A light next installment featuring familiar themes.
Glue gains some sparkle with help from a new friend.
Whether securing Popsicle sticks and pompoms or bringing art to life with googly eyes, Glue is happy to help her friends create. But because her role relegates her to the background, she feels overlooked in the colorful shadows of Pencil and the Markers. Arriving uncapped, with a plume of purple and blue sparkles swirling about, is even more noticeable Glitter. Glue, doing what she does well, offers to stick some of Glitter’s sparkles down. But free-spirited Glitter is “meant to sparkle the entire world, not just one tiny spot!” A mishap might just open his mind and bring some shine to Glue’s life. In this third book, Kilpatrick and Blanco tackle individuality, confidence, and friendship. Glue’s contributions are vital and do not go unpraised by her friends, but she can’t help but feel invisible because her work is often unseen or physically transparent. Ultimately, the team-up with Glitter permanently transforms Glue: With the gift of some of Glitter’s sparkle, Glue’s work is hard to miss. Blanco’s mixed-media illustrations bring texture across the bright white backdrops of the pages. The minimalist art and short narrative result in a simple and cheery, if slightly didactic, message about uplifting less obvious achievements. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A light next installment featuring familiar themes. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 10, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-250-81760-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: March 29, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2022
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