A creative, involving introduction to the power of community care.
Johnny Heart the lion falls on hard times after a brief time as a rock star—and discovers something else that beats the limelight.
Fat Cat (a skinny cheetah) sells talented lion singer Johnny on a life of fame and fortune, but “as his shows got bigger, everyone seemed so much further away.” He tours an animal-filled world (though the Statue of Liberty is still human) and sings in the spotlight each night, but Johnny is overworked and underappreciated. His voice gives out, and Fat Cat unceremoniously drops him from the label. Busky Soul the Bear, carrying a handkerchief knapsack, welcomes Johnny to a circle of animal friends who have hurt their paws or been bullied by wolves (a missed opportunity to present wolves in a positive light). A smiling Mary Monkey, a volunteer, offers food. Johnny brightens. He realizes he can make others happy in different ways. He becomes a volunteer as well, presumably because volunteers have helped house, feed, and cheer him. His voice returns, and Fat Cat wants to make money from his singing again, but instead Johnny gives benefit concerts at a treehouse shelter. Webster’s text provides a happy-ending fable of homelessness and mutual aid for young children and shows that even talented, valuable people may experience housing insecurity. García’s digital illustrations in orange and blue tones are economical, warm, and dynamic, with rounded shapes and shadowed silhouettes providing a visual pop.
A creative, involving introduction to the power of community care.Pub Date: March 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781953458636
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Yeehoo Press
Review Posted Online: March 13, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
Fun times, fond friends, and a festive farmyard setting—little ones will be charmed.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Toad and Little Blue Truck get ready for a hayride.
After the titular vehicle is loaded with hay, Toad is nowhere to be found. “Beep! Beep! Beep! Where are you, Toad?” asks Little Blue Truck. All the barnyard animals look for him. Sheep searches the meadow. Goose and Duck check the pond. Others pitch in, too, but Toad seems to have disappeared…until Hen hears snoring coming from the pile of hay in the back of Little Blue Truck. Although the text’s scansion is imperfect in places (adults may want to pre-read to ensure a smooth read-aloud), the bouncy meter and rhyming text nevertheless capture the energy of the search and the farmyard community’s concern for Toad’s safety, making this a solid storytime choice. Eye-catching illustrations with rich, fully saturated colors balance the right level of detail while still highlighting the animal that is the focus of each verse. By introducing one farm animal at a time, Schertle also helps the youngest readers begin to identify barnyard animals by name and understand their unique farm homes. Traditional animal sounds are part of the text, and listeners will add them to their vocabulary. It all ends with the promised hayride, bringing the tale to a joyous ending.
Fun times, fond friends, and a festive farmyard setting—little ones will be charmed. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2026
ISBN: 9780063436121
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones.
Not even the arrival of autumn can cool down this impetuous squirrel.
Although Squirrel is skeptical about Bird’s vegetable patch (“Nothing is HAPPENING!”), Bird does produce five (count them) lovely pumpkins. Squirrel picks out a favorite: “The enormous orange one.” Bird hints that Squirrel might want to help out; Squirrel sets out to fetch some work gloves and returns to find only four pumpkins. The frequently distracted Squirrel notices more gourds disappearing and leaps to the conclusion that a thief is near. And where’s Bird?! Has Squirrel’s pal also been taken? Diligently detecting, Squirrel finds clues—peck marks, footprints, and more—and produces a sketch of the suspect. As readers will guess, each clue turns out to point to one of Squirrel and Bird’s friends. Turns out Bird was delivering pumpkins to their pals while saving the big one to give to “my very best friend,” Squirrel. But why does Squirrel haul it up a tree? “So the Pumpkin Thief can’t find it, of course!” A page of pumpkin facts provides the learning component common to all titles in this series. Once more, readers will enjoy the pleasure of prediction and repetition, Squirrel’s silly persistence, Bird’s generosity, and the vibrant color illustrations, balancing orange with green.
More fun antics to satisfy returning fans and snag new ones. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781464268076
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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