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HOW ABOUT A NIGHT OUT?

Name: HOW ABOUT A NIGHT OUT?
Author: Sam Williams
ISBN: 978-1-912757-14-5

by Sam Williams ; illustrated by Matt Hunt ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2019

While the cat’s adventures ultimately prove a bit ho-hum, the art and the cat’s joie de vivre are enticing.

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Join a city cat on a vibrant nocturnal adventure.

While “lap cats are lazy cats, / who only sleep on hallway mats,” this “city kitty” would rather make a little noise out on the town! Told in catchy couplets, the poem catalogs the cat’s nighttime excursion through the urban environment, whether it’s meeting other feline friends to “catercall upon the wall” or starting a rollicking prowl for owls and pigeons. But while the cat narrator may be exuberant about its feline-centric exploits, human readers might be less enamored of what is essentially a rhyming list of generic, cat-related activities. Though the cat proclaims it a “night to sing about,” there is no grand adventure centering the narrative, and the unceremonious arrival of morning, announced when people start to “put the garbage out,” makes the cat’s night out—and the whole story—feel like a bit of a letdown. With wild, round goldenrod-colored eyes, a sleek striped body, and bottlebrush tail, the partying kitty gleams against the deep-black night sky and bustling cityscapes. Flat colors reminiscent of Ezra Jack Keats’ palette allow the lit windows and cat silhouettes to shine, and the large-headed, sly-looking cats that move fluidly across the pages are perfectly matched to the playful rhythm.

While the cat’s adventures ultimately prove a bit ho-hum, the art and the cat’s joie de vivre are enticing. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-912757-14-5

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Boxer Books

Review Posted Online: July 13, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS

- BOOK REVIEW
WELCOME HOME, BABY!
by Abigail Tabby ; illustrated by Sam Williams

- BOOK REVIEW
SNACK TIME
by Sam Williams ; illustrated by Sam Williams

- BOOK REVIEW
ART BARN
by Sam Williams ; illustrated by Sam Williams

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IT'S MY BIRD-DAY!

From the Pigeon series

by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2026

Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending.

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Don’t let the Pigeon ruin his own special day!

Anyone who has ever encountered the title character in any of his books—whether his first, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (2003), or one of its many sequels—will understand that the bird’s innate self-love drives his every interaction. Little wonder, then, that he’s thrilled about his own “bird-day.” He has the hat. He has his “FANCY PLUMAGE.” And, best of all, he will get to blow out a candle “on my bird-day hot dog!” As he revels in the knowledge that this day is all for him, comeuppance is lurking. Someone has already blown out the bird-day candle—and eaten half the hot dog. It turns out that the Pigeon’s frenemy, the Duckling, has the same bird-day—as do a slew of newly hatched chicks. The Pigeon’s obligatory eight-panel freakout ensues. “What am I—invisible? I just want to be seen,” he whimpers, and when he receives some much-needed reassurance, he settles down and willingly shares his special day. While the switch from unapologetic narcissism to mature acceptance happens in the record-breaking span of two pages, the book is as enchanting as the Pigeon’s earlier outings. Even as it walks in the footsteps of its predecessors, there’s no denying the fun to be had.

Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending. (Picture book. 3-6)

Pub Date: March 31, 2026

ISBN: 9781454999621

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Union Square Kids

Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

- BOOK REVIEW
THE MONSTER AND PUPPET SHOW!
by Mo Willems & Kate Micucci ; illustrated by Mo Willems & Kate Micucci

- BOOK REVIEW
THE PIGEON WON'T COUNT TO 10!
by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems

- BOOK REVIEW
WILL THE PIGEON GRADUATE?
by Mo Willems ; illustrated by Mo Willems

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HEDGEHOGS DON'T WEAR UNDERWEAR

by Marissa Valdez ; illustrated by Marissa Valdez ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2025

Sure to have little ones giggling.

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Jacques is a hedgehog with a big secret: “I wear real, bona fide underwear.”

Our narrator received a mysterious package one day; an illustration shows a pair of underwear tied to a balloon with a note “from the Universe” floating down into Jacques’ burrow. Hedgehogs don’t wear underwear, however. Will Jacques be shunned? Jacques worries but comes to a decision: “I have to wear them. When I do I feel special.” Determined, Jacques, who’s been invited to a party, makes a dramatic entrance, with undies in hand. Jacques’ declaration (“I WEAR UNDERWEAR”) is met with remarks of dismay, before another hedgehog opens up about similar fears and shows off a pair of cowboy boots. More hedgehogs introduce themselves with their own confessions. The story ends with Jacques unveiling a painting of the underwear in a gallery filled with hedgehogs wearing all sorts of attire. Though the book is simple in plot, characters, and setting, it wins in its balance of bathroom humor, dramatic storytelling, and celebrations of individual expression. French words are peppered throughout, adding to the fun without detracting from the story for those unfamiliar with the language. The cartoonish illustrations brim with fun; Valdez relies heavily on geometric shapes (triangle noses for the hedgehogs; huge circles for their eyes). Details such as speech bubbles and recurring turtle and snake characters contribute to the outlandish humor.

Sure to have little ones giggling. (Picture book. 3-5)