Lovers of food, dogs, and rhyme will eagerly bite.
Sopranos actor Schirripa’s debut picture book follows a dog who’s determined to convince his owner that while there may not be more to life than food, there’s more to food than Italian.
New Yorkers WillieBoy, a narrating dachshund, and his adult owner, tan-skinned Steve (modeled on Schirripa), are strolling through Central Bark when the dog is prompted by the park’s international canine population: “Come visit our places—we’ll teach you the pleasures / of all different foods—they’re a world full of treasures!” Steve would prefer to stick with Italian fare, but WillieBoy is, it must be said, dogged. He and Steve take a joyful gustatory tour of the city, with WillieBoy’s rhymes as color commentary (“A cheese quesadilla, and then quite a lotta / carnitas, burritos, and one enchilada”). The book, an offshoot of the food-focused videos Schirripa has made with his lovable real-life pup, doesn’t feature any children, which may make it less than alluring to young readers. Still, audiences of any age will appreciate the rhymes, which scale new heights of inventiveness, as when “a great big Hurray!—a” sets up “paella.” Schirripa and co-author Lerman also offer a sweet message about how trying new foods can be a gateway to other cultures. Parrish captures it all in caricaturish art that employs as many colors as there are stories—and dishes—in Gotham.
Lovers of food, dogs, and rhyme will eagerly bite. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 21, 2026
ISBN: 9781636142449
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Akashic
Review Posted Online: Feb. 18, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among
Pete, the cat who couldn’t care less, celebrates Christmas with his inimitable lassitude.
If it weren’t part of the title and repeated on every other page, readers unfamiliar with Pete’s shtick might have a hard time arriving at “groovy” to describe his Christmas celebration, as the expressionless cat displays not a hint of groove in Dean’s now-trademark illustrations. Nor does Pete have a great sense of scansion: “On the first day of Christmas, / Pete gave to me… / A road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” The cat is shown at the wheel of a yellow microbus strung with garland and lights and with a star-topped tree tied to its roof. On the second day of Christmas Pete gives “me” (here depicted as a gray squirrel who gets on the bus) “2 fuzzy gloves, and a road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” On the third day, he gives “me” (now a white cat who joins Pete and the squirrel) “3 yummy cupcakes,” etc. The “me” mentioned in the lyrics changes from day to day and gift to gift, with “4 far-out surfboards” (a frog), “5 onion rings” (crocodile), and “6 skateboards rolling” (a yellow bird that shares its skateboards with the white cat, the squirrel, the frog, and the crocodile while Pete drives on). Gifts and animals pile on until the microbus finally arrives at the seaside and readers are told yet again that it’s all “GROOVY!”
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among . (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-267527-9
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Visually sweet, though hampered by disjointed storytelling.
In this picture book from Fox News journalist Hall, a young hedgehog must find a way to protect his community when peril looms.
Hedgehog and his father both have busy days ahead. Dad’s on his way to the newspaper to report “what new news the news brings.” Hedgehog packs his backpack for an adventure, mindful of Dad’s rules: “Don’t talk to strangers” and “never ever cross the river alone.” Obeying the rules proves difficult when Hedgehog notices commotion on the other side of the river: A bear is hungrily eyeing Baby Owl, who’s fallen from her tree. With creative thinking, Hedgehog frightens off the bear and alerts Mama Owl, but the predator is still at large. So Hedgehog and Mama Owl create flyers to warn the forest residents. Though Motzo’s airy illustrations are pleasing—particularly the adorably animated Hedgehog, a tribute to Hall’s own children—the narrative feels bogged down with multiple themes as it attempts to explore the power of the written word, the importance of community, and the need to adhere to a parent’s rules. When Hedgehog apologizes for his apparent disobedience, Dad explains that Hedgehog never actually broke the rules; turns out it’s OK to cross the river in the company of an adult, and Mama Owl’s no stranger (she’s the town librarian, whom Hedgehog sees every week). The back-and-forth may leave readers confused; it also feels like a missed opportunity to discuss how to identify trustworthy adults.
Visually sweet, though hampered by disjointed storytelling. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
ISBN: 9780063357549
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Dec. 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2026
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