An encouraging tale of self-acceptance, friendship…and unicorns.
In the latest in Hale and Pham’s popular series, a majestic unicorn nurtures big dreams.
Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn (2021) validated Kitty’s desire to be a unicorn and Unicorn’s longings to be a kitty; the book wrapped up with both of them declaring themselves kitty-corns. But Unicorn also sometimes wishes he were a mermaid (an “enchanting mermaid,” at that). Kitty can make that dream a reality. After spending hours with her craft supplies (like the ones she made her horn with), she creates two mermaid tails. One is purple and itty-bitty, and the other is unicorn-sized and green, and “Unicorn’s eyes get wobbly with tears.” Kitty has made his dream come true…but she’s not done yet. They must go to the beach to don their tails and really live it up. With Kitty’s pet fish and her pals Parakeet and Gecko in tow, they arrive…but the beach doesn’t measure up to Unicorn’s hopes. And he finally comes clean: He can’t swim. Not to worry! Resourceful Kitty has it under control! Unicorn’s a bit disappointed: Surely real mermaids don’t need floaties or goggles. Still, he feels enchanted, not because of his tail…but because he has a friend like Kitty. Though the story conveys the same ideas of “live your dreams” and “be your inner you” as in previous installments, it’s still pink and purple (and bubbly) fun. Pham uses white space effectively, while the friendship between the central characters shines through.
An encouraging tale of self-acceptance, friendship…and unicorns. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9781419768774
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024
A charming continuation of a much-beloved series—and a clever tribute to the power of storytelling.
Scheherazade hasn’t got a thing on this sneaky mouse’s tale-telling talents.
The Gruffalo—the furry, yellow-eyed creature readers may remember from Donaldson and Scheffler’s classic work of the same name—and his daughter receive notice that Gruffalo Granny will soon be coming for a visit. This calls for a special meal, but what to serve? Ultimately, the Gruffalos decide to snatch up that same mouse who dodged their hungry tummies in the first book. When the mouse is informed that they intend to pop him in a stew, he acquiesces but asks if he can tell a story first. As in The Thousand and One Nights, the mouse leaves his tale unfinished each evening; the Gruffalos let him live so they can hear what happens. By night, the mouse gnaws on the bars of his cage. Eventually, there’s a happy ending, not just for the mouse but for the Gruffalos as well (Granny has different tastes than expected). Donaldson’s gently rhyming text will have readers as rapt as the Gruffalo and his child. Featuring saturated colors and characters who are utterly sweet for all their fangs and claws, Scheffler’s artwork hasn’t changed a jot since the Mouse and Gruffalo first met. References to the creators’ previous works provide delightful easter eggs for fans.
A charming continuation of a much-beloved series—and a clever tribute to the power of storytelling. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2026
ISBN: 9798217238736
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: Sept. 22, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2026
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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