Unnecessary anthropomorphization mars what should be a stirring, heroic tale.
Ordinary heroes dive into danger in this celebration of Hurricane Katrina’s Cajun Navy.
Around New Orleans and all along the Gulf Coast, a wide array of boats can be found. Here readers meet Bubba, a bass boat, Bennie, an airboat, and Sal, a speedboat. One day, a hurricane strikes Louisiana. The waves crash, the levees break, and suddenly there are too many people for the firefighters, police, and Coast Guardsmen to save. Initially Bubba, Bennie, and Sal feel helpless, but as word goes out for volunteers to help the people stranded, the boats feel the call of duty. As the backmatter relates, thousands of people were rescued thanks to this impromptu “Cajun Navy.” Additional information discusses the origins of hurricanes, the Cajun Navy’s ongoing efforts, and how to prepare before and keep safe during a hurricane. Much of Neubecker’s art is beautiful, as when the endpapers present New Orleans from above. However, these rescue boats have both eyeballs and sentience: “Bubba has an idea: ‘If all the little boats work together, we can do big things.’ ” The humans piloting them seem like afterthoughts. While the impulse to make this tale of disaster a child-friendly one is understandable, anthropomorphizing the boats detracts from the true heroism of the very real citizen rescuers. A straightforward retelling would have better served this history.
Unnecessary anthropomorphization mars what should be a stirring, heroic tale. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: May 18, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-17689-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2021
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
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BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Fun times, fond friends, and a festive farmyard setting—little ones will be charmed.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Toad and Little Blue Truck get ready for a hayride.
After the titular vehicle is loaded with hay, Toad is nowhere to be found. “Beep! Beep! Beep! Where are you, Toad?” asks Little Blue Truck. All the barnyard animals look for him. Sheep searches the meadow. Goose and Duck check the pond. Others pitch in, too, but Toad seems to have disappeared…until Hen hears snoring coming from the pile of hay in the back of Little Blue Truck. Although the text’s scansion is imperfect in places (adults may want to pre-read to ensure a smooth read-aloud), the bouncy meter and rhyming text nevertheless capture the energy of the search and the farmyard community’s concern for Toad’s safety, making this a solid storytime choice. Eye-catching illustrations with rich, fully saturated colors balance the right level of detail while still highlighting the animal that is the focus of each verse. By introducing one farm animal at a time, Schertle also helps the youngest readers begin to identify barnyard animals by name and understand their unique farm homes. Traditional animal sounds are part of the text, and listeners will add them to their vocabulary. It all ends with the promised hayride, bringing the tale to a joyous ending.
Fun times, fond friends, and a festive farmyard setting—little ones will be charmed. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2026
ISBN: 9780063436121
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
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BOOK REVIEW
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