A middling morality story despite a strong message about the power of a single act of kindness.
Elementary-schooler Peter starts a chain reaction of generosity by giving his lunch away in Johnston’s debut picture book.
Peter is the new kid at school, and he sticks out for a reason: His family is poor. His father is a shoemaker, and his mother is a breadmaker; together they make ends meet as best they can. One day Peter reveals during lunchtime that all he has to eat are two slices of bread, and the other kids tease him. Later he meets a student who has no lunch at all: “My name is Mark, and I am so hungry. My mom and dad have no work because there aren’t any jobs available.” Peter shares his bread with Mark, which inspires his mother to begin baking bread especially for Mark’s family. These actions spark a series of good deeds that ultimately benefit both Peter’s and Mark’s families. Johnston’s moral tale is simple and inspiring. There are some improbable aspects; it seems unlikely that Peter’s family could financially support Mark’s. Maddi’s Fridge by Lois Brandt plays on the same themes, but maintains focus on acts of kindness where Johnston does not. Thompson’s illustrations are full of bright colors with cartoon-like characters whose positioning interplays with the text, such as when the words “They were all so happy,” curve up the side of a tree.
A middling morality story despite a strong message about the power of a single act of kindness.Pub Date: May 30, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-03-916804-6
Page Count: 30
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: Aug. 24, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
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A bit predictable but pleasantly illustrated.
Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault’s classic alphabet book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (1989) gets the Halloween treatment.
Chung follows the original formula to the letter. In alphabetical order, each letter climbs to the top of a tree. They are knocked back to the ground in a jumble before climbing up in sequence again. In homage to the spooky holiday theme, they scale a “creaky old tree,” and a ghostly jump scare causes the pileup. The chunky, colorful art is instantly recognizable. The charmingly costumed letters (“H swings a tail. / I wears a patch. J and K don / bows that don’t match”) are set against a dark backdrop, framed by pages with orange or purple borders. The spreads feature spiderwebs and jack-o’-lanterns. The familiar rhyme cadence is marred by the occasional clunky or awkward phrase; in particular, the adapted refrain of “Chicka chicka tricka treat” offers tongue-twisting fun, but it’s repeatedly followed by the disappointing half-rhyme “Everybody sneaka sneak.” Even this odd construction feels shoehorned into place, since “sneaking” makes little sense when every character in the book is climbing together. The final line of the book ends on a more satisfying note, with “Everybody—time to eat!”
A bit predictable but pleasantly illustrated. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: July 15, 2025
ISBN: 9781665954785
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: March 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2025
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