An offbeat, heartfelt tale of finding companionship.
An anthropomorphic tumbleweed seeks a friend in Bartlett’s latest picture book.
Spike, a spherical tumbleweed with a face, encounters uncomfortable elements as he goes on his trek, including rocky roads and thunder. His offers to befriend various objects and animals are rejected; for example, a chicken is too busy crossing the road, and a flying clock is running late. Spike is thrilled when a tree with a swing offers to play; however, Spike soars too high on the swing, falls off, and lands on an angry slice of crabapple pie. Spike endures other mishaps, including birds who try to “make a nest out of him.” He begins to lose hope until he meets another tumbleweed named Raye. They joyfully tumble away together, and Spike makes up a song about their connection. Eventually, they marry and have tiny tumbleweeds. Young readers will root for the unconventional, earnest protagonist and rejoice when he finds a partner after a calamitous journey. Despite some wacky inclusions (a talking birthday present, a sentient line), the story also features relatable circumstances, as when Spike feels dejected after being told that he can’t attend a party. The book includes fun, quirky elements, including song lyrics. Bartlett’s simple line drawings are offset by solid, colorful backdrops with crayonlike textures and loopy, cartoonish clouds.
An offbeat, heartfelt tale of finding companionship.Pub Date: May 13, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-73390-860-3
Page Count: 50
Publisher: Sandhill Publishers
Review Posted Online: Feb. 21, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
PERSPECTIVES
Say hello to a relatable and rewarding early reader!
Fun with friends makes for a great day.
Norbit, a salmon-colored worm with a pink kerchief, joyfully greets the day and everyone he encounters. “Hello, friends! It’s time for fun with the sun! Let’s play!” He and his menagerie of forest pals—including the sun, who grows limbs and descends from the sky—exuberantly engage in various forms of physical activity such as jumping, going down a slide, spinning around, and watching the clouds go by. Young readers will readily relate, as these are games that most children are familiar with. As day turns to night, Norbit says farewell to Sun and welcomes Moon with an invitation to continue the fun. Watkins has created a vivid world of movement and merriment. Her illustrations feature bright bursts of color that match the energy of the text, with most sentences ending in an exclamation point. The author/illustrator incorporates many elements that make for an ideal early-reading experience (despite the use of a contraction or two): art free from clutter, text consisting of words with only one or two syllables, and repetition and recurring bits, such as a continued game of hide-and-seek with Sun. Inspired by never-before-seen sketches from the Dr. Seuss Collection archives at the University of California San Diego, this is the first title for Seuss Studios, a new imprint for original stories from “emerging authors and illustrators” who “honor Seuss’s hallmark spirit of creativity and imagination.”
Say hello to a relatable and rewarding early reader! (author's note) (Early reader. 5-8)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9780593646212
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Seuss Studios
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind.
When Mom and Dad bring baby Rasheed home for the first time, it’s love at first sight for big brother Anthony.
As the boys grow, Anthony teaches his little sibling how to build a tower with blocks (and how to knock it down with a loud “WHOP!!!”), how to ride a bike, and even how to fly (through a well-timed leap from the swings). When thunder and lightning wake them both one night, Anthony assuages Rasheed’s fears with the book’s titular refrain: “I got you.” But one day Anthony goes for a bike ride with his friends, leaving Rasheed alone and hurt. That night, Anthony explains that while he may spend time with his peers, his bond with Rasheed is unbreakable. And as the book comes to a close, with Mom and Dad introducing the boys to their new little sibling, Anthony leaves Rasheed with perhaps the greatest lesson of all: how to be a supportive big brother himself. Narrated by Rasheed, Barnes’ text is elegant in its simplicity, loving yet never saccharine, and always emotionally honest. Using varied perspectives, Knight-Justice’s richly hued, collagelike digital illustrations combine a patchwork of textures and patterns, immersing readers in this affectionate Black family’s world. Greens and blues dominate the pages, bringing to life an idyllic suburban setting.
Brotherly love and Black joy abound in this brilliantly told tribute to the ties that bind. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 15, 2025
ISBN: 9780593111451
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
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