A moving tale for vehicle lovers to share on Father’s Day—and beyond.
This firm but caring dad leads by example.
Before sunrise, five small, blanket-draped skids awaken, “ready for some big, LOUD fun!” Slower to rouse, Big Loader “s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-s in slow motion, / awakened by the skid commotion!” He checks the little ones’ tires and ensures they’re fueled up and each fitted with different attachments. All are destined to “dig and move 500 tons!” Their project is unspecified, but the big guy is there to oversee it all, patiently showing the others how to work safely and efficiently. He’s proud to see the little ones “learn how to pull their weight, / to share, and to cooperate”—after all, “teamwork makes a family.” By day’s end, the skids still aren’t sleepy; they’d rather play! As night falls, Big Loader tucks the little ones in under their blankets, with a couple clutching stuffies, before turning in himself. The narrator lovingly pays tribute to this “great machine, so kind and smart.” While references to parenthood are limited to the book’s title, it takes no interpretive skill to see Big Loader as a father figure, and Ford’s tender illustrations invest the yellow steel vehicle with the maximum warmth possible. Elegantly composed yet utterly sweet, his visuals once more pair beautifully with Rinker’s sparkling verse, conveying tender emotion while also offering plenty of details for those youngsters who can’t get enough of construction machinery.
A moving tale for vehicle lovers to share on Father’s Day—and beyond. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: April 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781797238500
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
Familiarity breeds a birthday for the ages in this party worth attending.
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
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A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series.
Another creature is on the loose.
The long-running series continues its successful formula with this Hallmark card of a book, which features bright illustrations and catchy rhymes. This time, the mythical creature the racially diverse children set out to catch is an absent mom who does it all (lists of descriptors include the words banker, caregiver, nurse, doctor, driver, chef, housekeeper, teacher, entertainer, playmate, laundry service, problem solver, handywoman, cleaner, and alarm clock) but doesn’t seem to have a job outside the home and is inexplicably a dinosaur. As the children prepare gifts and a meal for her, the text becomes an ode to the skills the Mamasaurus possesses (“Day or night she’s always there. / She meets every wish and need”) and values she instills (“Sometimes life can mean hard work,” “kindness matters,” and “what counts is doing your best”). This well-intentioned selection veers into cliche generously sprinkled with saccharine but manages to redeem itself with its appreciation for mothers and all that they may do. Endpapers include a “to” and “from” page framed in a heart, as well as a page where young gift givers or recipients can draw a picture of their Mamasaurus.
A syrupy tribute to mothers that may please fans of the series. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781728274300
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 6, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2024
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