An entertaining and thoughtful portrait of an impressionable and sensitive youngster.
A neighbor’s casual remark sets a young boy off on avian discoveries.
Arriving home one day, Carrasco runs into his neighbor Mrs. Manolita and her little pup, Hulk. Yesterday she pinched Carrasco’s cheeks and called him “cute,” so today, he’s pushed himself into the elevator corner hoping to avoid her. “Aren’t you a strange bird!” she says as she exits. And now Carrasco can’t stop thinking about her comment. Glancing in the mirror reveals no birdlike characteristics. Diligent observation of birds in the park, extensive library research, and a taste of Uncle Anselmo parakeet’s food suggest that he’s not a bird. When his flying attempt flops, Mrs. Manolita happens to come to his rescue. She proceeds to call Hulk a chicken for barking at Carrasco, making him realize she’s just “not very good at identifying animals.” With infectious humor, Spanish author/illustrator Bonilla creates an effective narrative underscoring the power of nonsensical common phrases. The book was originally published in 2020 in Spain, and Lethem ensures none of the clever wordplay is lost in translation. Bonilla’s whimsical illustrations balance meticulous details with comical charm to capture Carrasco’s steadfast explorations and infectious expressions. Occasional black-and-white backgrounds—mirror reflections, library shelves, Uncle Anselmo’s living room—vividly spotlight Carrasco in colorful action. Characters have light-tan skin. An appended note draws parallels with the teachings of the rabbi Zusya.
An entertaining and thoughtful portrait of an impressionable and sensitive youngster. (info on animal expressions) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
ISBN: 9781681157146
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Apples & Honey Press
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.
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
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among
Pete, the cat who couldn’t care less, celebrates Christmas with his inimitable lassitude.
If it weren’t part of the title and repeated on every other page, readers unfamiliar with Pete’s shtick might have a hard time arriving at “groovy” to describe his Christmas celebration, as the expressionless cat displays not a hint of groove in Dean’s now-trademark illustrations. Nor does Pete have a great sense of scansion: “On the first day of Christmas, / Pete gave to me… / A road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” The cat is shown at the wheel of a yellow microbus strung with garland and lights and with a star-topped tree tied to its roof. On the second day of Christmas Pete gives “me” (here depicted as a gray squirrel who gets on the bus) “2 fuzzy gloves, and a road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” On the third day, he gives “me” (now a white cat who joins Pete and the squirrel) “3 yummy cupcakes,” etc. The “me” mentioned in the lyrics changes from day to day and gift to gift, with “4 far-out surfboards” (a frog), “5 onion rings” (crocodile), and “6 skateboards rolling” (a yellow bird that shares its skateboards with the white cat, the squirrel, the frog, and the crocodile while Pete drives on). Gifts and animals pile on until the microbus finally arrives at the seaside and readers are told yet again that it’s all “GROOVY!”
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among . (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-267527-9
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
