A book to welcome into all kinds of homes.
Williams’ heartfelt text, published posthumously, supports Raschka’s expressive illustrations to tell the story of a child adopted by two dads.
At last, picture books featuring diverse family constellations are entering mainstream publishing in greater numbers, and Williams’ text does a fine job of depicting the complexities of adoption. This isn’t a story of a longed-for infant going happily-ever-after home to loving, adoptive parents. Lester is a boy of perhaps 6 who lived in a group home while Daddy Rich and Daddy Albert completed the adoption process. Lester and Daddy Albert seem white, with straight blond hair and light skin, while bearded Daddy Rich has a slightly darker complexion and curly dark hair, rendering his race ambiguous. The text opens on his homecoming day, and later, a few lines fill in Lester’s back story of loss. It touches on the range of emotions Lester feels as he learns to trust his new parents while also acknowledging the fathers’ struggle to adjust—especially Daddy Albert, who has “a big temper.” Raschka’s paintings (which backmatter says Williams helped him sketch before her death) add emotional depth to the setbacks, miscommunications, and moments of joy punctuating the lengthy text. At the book’s end, with the help of dog Wincka and extended family, too, Lester feels “truly home at last.”
A book to welcome into all kinds of homes. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-134973-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2016
PERSPECTIVES
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
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
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