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SIXTEEN GAMES OF HIDE AND SEEK

Name: SIXTEEN GAMES OF HIDE AND SEEK
Author: Stephen Barr
ISBN: 9780823460465

by Stephen Barr ; illustrated by Steve Teare ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 12, 2026

Look no further—you found a real winner.

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A classic childhood game gets its flowers in an empathetic and joyful depiction of father-son play.

Ro and his dad are playing hide-and-seek, which “is NERVE-WRACKING but REALLY EXCITING but SORT OF SCARY but SO MUCH FUN.” The game’s constant need for reinvention keeps things thrilling, and Ro tests his independence within the confines of their safe home. Ro knows what to do when he finds the perfect hiding spot: “You close your eyes, just in case, and you breathe the slowest little breaths, and it’s almost like you’re hiding from yourself, too. And time disappears.” But just as Ro is beginning to really fret (a storm is raging outside, and his father still hasn’t located him), Dad quickly finds and reassures him. Barr and Teare masterfully evoke the tension many children feel between wanting to hide but needing to be found; they convey both Ro’s vulnerability and emotional security. Teare’s loose and playful portraiture emphasizes the wholesome theatricality of these romps. Soft-edged, multimedia artwork depicts the four-member family with skin the candy colors of the page, and limited dialogue pops in vivid speech bubbles. This compassionate gem has the heft of William Steig couched in gentle humor, with quick potential to become part of the kid lit canon.

Look no further—you found a real winner. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: May 12, 2026

ISBN: 9780823460465

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Neal Porter/Holiday House

Review Posted Online: Feb. 16, 2026

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2026

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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IF THIS WERE THE WORLD
by Stephen Barr ; illustrated by AG Ford

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THE UPSIDE DOWN HAT
by Stephen Barr ; illustrated by Gracey Zhang

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WHY A DAUGHTER NEEDS A MOM

by Gregory R. Lange ; illustrated by Sydney Hanson ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2019

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.

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All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.

Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)

Pub Date: May 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)