An amusing satire on influencer culture and an earnest endorsement of disciplined effort.
Apparently unaware of his own cautionary history, Hare is destined to repeat it in this wryly funny paean to perseverance.
Chicken Little isn’t interested in the upcoming marathon. (“Have you seen how short my legs are?”) But the hens are agog at the competition’s sponsor and most famous participant, Hare, a local celebrity, and begin to train diligently. Then Hare’s running manual arrives. Despite its title, Hop to It, the book is strangely silent on workouts, instead touting Hare-brand smoothies, sneakers, and sweatbands. The hens purchase everything and relax on chaises, reading and slurping. Upon learning that the hens haven’t read any other training handbooks, serious, bespectacled Chicken Little becomes concerned. She warns, “It’s a very long race! You could get hurt if you don’t train!” “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Goaded, she signs up to race and begins a strenuous regimen. It’s a tough ordeal, but “still, she persisted,” sustained by her mantra, “slow and steady.” The race-day results will not be a surprise. Hare struggles to accept coming in second, while Chicken Little, having realized the rewards of determination and hard work, ponders future challenges. With hand-lettering and minimal touches of color, the droll, lighthearted line illustrations and sly nods to adult readers balance the sensible messaging. This is a successful third hit for the “real” Chicken Little.
An amusing satire on influencer culture and an earnest endorsement of disciplined effort. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781338892420
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Yes, the Pigeon has to go to school, and so do readers, and this book will surely ease the way.
All the typical worries and excuses kids have about school are filtered through Willems’ hysterical, bus-loving Pigeon.
Told mostly in speech balloons, the bird’s monologue will have kids (and their caregivers) in stitches at Pigeon’s excuses. From already knowing everything (except whatever question readers choose to provide in response to “Go ahead—ask me a question. / Any question!”) to fearing learning too much (“My head might pop off”), Pigeon’s imagination has run wild. Readers familiar with Pigeon will recognize the muted, matte backgrounds that show off the bird’s shenanigans so well. As in previous outings, Willems varies the size of the pigeon on the page to help communicate emotion, the bird teeny small on the double-page spread that illustrates the confession that “I’m… / scared.” And Pigeon’s eight-box rant about all the perils of school (“The unknown stresses me out, dude”) is marvelously followed by the realization (complete with lightbulb thought bubble) that school is the place for students to practice, with experts, all those skills they don’t yet have. But it is the ending that is so Willems, so Pigeon, and so perfect. Pigeon’s last question is “Well, HOW am I supposed to get there, anyway!?!” Readers will readily guess both the answer and Pigeon’s reaction.
Yes, the Pigeon has to go to school, and so do readers, and this book will surely ease the way. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: July 2, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-368-04645-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Hyperion
Review Posted Online: May 7, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it.
What happens when a robot washes up alone on an island?
“Everything was just right on the island.” Brown beautifully re-creates the first days of Roz, the protagonist of his Wild Robot novels, as she adapts to living in the natural world. A storm-tossed ship, seen in the opening just before the title page, and a packing crate are the only other human-made objects to appear in this close-up look at the robot and her new home. Roz emerges from the crate, and her first thought as she sets off up a grassy hill—”This must be where I belong”—is sweetly glorious, a note of recognition rather than conquest. Roz learns to move, hide, and communicate like the creatures she meets. When she discovers an orphaned egg—and the gosling Brightbill, who eventually hatches—her decision to be his mother seems a natural extension of her adaptation. Once he flies south for the winter, her quiet wait across seasons for his return is a poignant portrayal of separation and change. Brown’s clean, precise lines and deep, light-filled colors offer a sense of what Roz might be seeing, suggesting a place that is alive yet deeply serene and radiant. Though the book stands alone, it adds an immensely appealing dimension to Roz’s world. Round thumbnails offer charming peeks into the island world, depicting Roz’s animal neighbors and Brightbill’s maturation.
A hymn to the intrinsic loveliness of the wild and the possibility of sharing it. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: June 24, 2025
ISBN: 9780316669467
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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