A beautifully illustrated, lyrical picture book with an underwhelming plot.
Kalamata, who is about to start a brand-new school, is trying to figure out how to be brave.
She remembers a time she and her family visited a spice market in India where, when faced with the intimidating crowd and all of the new sights and sounds and smells, Kalamata’s curiosity got the better of her nerves. Maybe, Kalamata thinks, if she can remember how she channeled that bravery, she can find the courage to be OK with going to school tomorrow. Kalamata climbs under the kitchen table with her stuffed-animal alligator, Al Dente, and works some under-the-table magic to transport herself back to the spice market. In her fanciful imagination, the stalls full of delicious ingredients transform into multicolored mountains, curry-leaf jungles, and even fluffy snowstorms. By the time she is ready to return to her hideaway under the table, Kalamata has found her courage—as well as her sense of adventure. The book’s vivid collage illustrations feature saturated hues and a female protagonist with dark skin and black, textured hair. The text is lyrical and poetic, conjuring clever and unexpected images that invoke all five senses. The plot, however, feels unfinished, particularly since there is no clear reason why Kalamata’s visit to the spice market results in her subsequent bravery, making the change in her character unconvincing. A final spread offers a map of India and some facts about cooking and spices.
A beautifully illustrated, lyrical picture book with an underwhelming plot. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 6, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-30791-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2021
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts.
In this latest slice in the Food Group series, Humble Pie learns to stand up to a busy friend who’s taking advantage of his pal’s hard work on the sidelines.
Jake the Cake and Humble Pie are good friends. Where Pie is content to toil in the background, Jake happily shines in the spotlight. Alert readers will notice that Pie’s always right there, too, getting A-pluses and skiing expertly just behind—while also doing the support work that keeps every school and social project humming. “Fact: Nobody notices pie when there’s cake nearby!” When the two friends pair up for a science project, things begin well. But when the overcommitted Jake makes excuse after excuse, showing up late or not at all, a panicked Pie realizes that they won’t finish in time. When Jake finally shows up on the night before the project’s due, Pie courageously confronts him. “And for once, I wasn’t going to sugarcoat it.” The friends talk it out and collaborate through the night for the project’s successful presentation in class the next day. John and Oswald’s winning recipe—plentiful puns and delightful visual jokes—has yielded another treat here. The narration does skew didactic as it wraps up: “There’s nothing wrong with having a tough conversation, asking for help, or making sure you’re being treated fairly.” But it’s all good fun, in service of some gentle lessons about social-emotional development.
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9780063469730
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
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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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