An upbeat, energetic reminder that all children need support to help them learn to believe in themselves.
A Black girl finds the inspiration she needs to shine from her beloved doll.
Sports fans who followed champion Williams upon her return to tennis after becoming a mother also became familiar with her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., and Alexis’ Black baby doll Qai Qai, who has a huge social media presence. Now, the child and her doll take center stage in their own picture-book adventure. Baby Girl loves to dance and move throughout her home with her mother, who is Black, her father, who is White, and, of course, Qai Qai. However, as Baby Girl’s upcoming dance recital approaches, she admits to her doll that she is nervous about getting her dance just right with so many people watching. Qai Qai becomes real and assures her that she will be able to overcome her stage fright and give an outstanding performance. Qai Qai’s confidence helps Baby Girl find the courage to set her fear aside and believe in her ability on the dance stage. Williams’ celebrity and Qai Qai’s following will attract readers to this lively, encouraging tale of self-belief and friendship. Making heavy use of shimmering pink and purple hues, the vivid, fluid digital art effectively brings to life a story infused with magic and movement. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An upbeat, energetic reminder that all children need support to help them learn to believe in themselves. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-250-83140-8
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2022
PERSPECTIVES
SEEN & HEARD
A sweet, springtime-themed reworking of a beloved tale.
The classic picture book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (1989) gets a makeover for Easter as the letters of the alphabet locate and decorate eggs.
The mission is simple: “Chicka chicka peek peek. / Everybody seek seek! / Find all the eggs / in the pretty pink tree.” The letters are making their way up the flowering tree in search of the hidden eggs when a “SNEEZE!” scatters everyone and the eggs fall and crack. Luckily, a bunny hops by with a haul of new ones, which the letters then paint and bedazzle, eventually sharing the newly decorated eggs with a group of bunnies. This picture book is a successfully Easter-fied version of the original: The letters go up; the letters fall down. Truly, though, that’s all the preschool crowd needs. Chung’s illustrations are simple and familiar, a direct echo of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. The letters appear in colorful, bold, block form. The book has few added details, just focal images like the tree and its pink flowers, the colorful eggs, tufts of grass, and some friendly rabbits. The alphabet appears in order (both upper- and lowercase letters) at the book’s open and close. The rhyming text follows the iconic cadence of the source material, making for a worthy read-aloud that will keep little hands turning pages.
A sweet, springtime-themed reworking of a beloved tale. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
ISBN: 9781665990646
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An upbeat Easter outing with a beloved character.
Pookie celebrates Easter with a play date and holiday activities.
Pookie’s friend Bean, a gray puppy, comes over for Easter fun that includes lots of bouncing around and egg decorating. After Bean goes home, Pookie gets excited about the Easter Bunny’s arrival and goes to sleep dreaming of a large chocolate egg. Like the other Pookie books before it, this one is told in rhyme from the perspective of a loving grown-up addressing the little pig, which keeps the pace moving and makes for a great read-aloud. Bean and Pookie are realistically—and endearingly—childlike, from Pookie’s pronunciation of yellow as “lellow!” to the joyful mess they make while decorating eggs. There are plenty of sweet and festive touches, such as the bunny ears that Bean and Pookie (and Pookie’s teddy) wear and the daffodils painted on the end of Pookie’s bed. The illustrations include large, full-page images as well as smaller vignettes against solid backgrounds. One page shows Pookie and parent looking out the window at the moon, anticipating Easter’s spoils. For fans of Boynton and little Pookie, this Easter tale is exactly as expected: a touch of playfulness, a relatable story, and comfort in the familiar. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An upbeat Easter outing with a beloved character. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Jan. 31, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-66592-838-0
Page Count: 18
Publisher: Boynton Bookworks
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022
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