A story whose marriage-plot arc may not feel relevant to young readers and whose illustrations exclude interracial families...
Paul, a young, anthropomorphic fox, is given a ukulele as a present, which leads to life adventures.
After Paul’s parents give him a ukulele for his birthday, he learns to play and practices regularly. As the years go by, he becomes accomplished and eventually feels the urge to travel. He and his ukulele visit cities, the countryside, and small towns, where he plays and meets others. When his ukulele breaks (and is fixed) he decides to settle down and open up a music shop. It’s a classic journey story, but the ending—a promise of romantic attachment—may be over the heads or interests of young readers. Kocsmiersky’s watercolor-and-ink illustrations have a fine sense of light that enhances her detailed cityscapes, interiors, and landscapes. She depicts all the story’s characters as anthropomorphic animals; however only their heads and tails are animallike. Torsos, limbs, proportions, and clothing are human, including fingers and opposable thumbs. The look is a bit unsettling, like humans with animal trophy-heads on their shoulders. It’s also disconcerting that, while the illustrations feature a diversity of anthropomorphic animal characters, couples and families are shown only as of the same species; and in fact, Paul’s love interest at the end of the story is, indeed, another (female) fox.
A story whose marriage-plot arc may not feel relevant to young readers and whose illustrations exclude interracial families and same-sex parents. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-9990249-2-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Ripple Grove
Review Posted Online: May 27, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2018
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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