A satisfying story with an important message.
A misanthropic bear inadvertently becomes a conservationist.
Grumpy Bruce prefers solitude—though that’s hard to find as a devoted parent to a passel of geese and mice. In search of some “me” time, he decides to go fishing but encounters a crowd of environmentalists protesting the building of a factory. Bruce rejects their pleas to join them. At the stream, he’s dismayed when his bait leaps into the stream with his lunch. On his way home, Bruce passes the demonstrators, who have been joined by his own offspring. They’re delighted he’s returned “to save the forest,” and soon the unwilling Bruce is shepherded to the town hall, where his unenthusiastic comments are hilariously misinterpreted: “I don’t even want to be here.” “Bruce is right! None of us wants to be here. But we MUST!” As it turns out, Bruce’s lunchbox holds the key to a miraculous victory: Nestled inside are two extremely rare beetles from the stream that, by law, must be protected. Therefore, no factory! Following a long nap, Bruce rehomes the beetles and finds a new fishing spot, and the forest becomes a “protected wildland,” named in Bruce’s honor. The contrast between the standoffish Bruce and his earnest children and peers makes for a funny yet sweet tale that celebrates environmental preservation efforts and applauds even the smallest attempts to fight for a worthy cause. Higgins’ expressive, crisp, and clean illustrations will keep youngsters chuckling.
A satisfying story with an important message. (tips for preserving the environment and animal habitats, websites, further reading) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781368090209
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
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SEEN & HEARD
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers.
Echoing the meter of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” Ward uses catchy original rhymes to describe the variety of nests birds create.
Each sweet stanza is complemented by a factual, engaging description of the nesting habits of each bird. Some of the notes are intriguing, such as the fact that the hummingbird uses flexible spider web to construct its cup-shaped nest so the nest will stretch as the chicks grow. An especially endearing nesting behavior is that of the emperor penguin, who, with unbelievable patience, incubates the egg between his tummy and his feet for up to 60 days. The author clearly feels a mission to impart her extensive knowledge of birds and bird behavior to the very young, and she’s found an appealing and attractive way to accomplish this. The simple rhymes on the left page of each spread, written from the young bird’s perspective, will appeal to younger children, and the notes on the right-hand page of each spread provide more complex factual information that will help parents answer further questions and satisfy the curiosity of older children. Jenkins’ accomplished collage illustrations of common bird species—woodpecker, hummingbird, cowbird, emperor penguin, eagle, owl, wren—as well as exotics, such as flamingoes and hornbills, are characteristically naturalistic and accurate in detail.
A good bet for the youngest bird-watchers. (author’s note, further resources) (Informational picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4424-2116-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Jan. 3, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2014
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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