A fresh and charming take on “growing a voice.” This “no” book is a big yes.
Learn the power and potential of the word no.
Many picture books extol the virtues of yes. Take that bath! Eat those veggies! But here, Kirwan takes a more nuanced view by savvily recasting proclamations of no into empowering statements. Set against crisp white backgrounds, the loose, sketchy, digitally created vignettes show a variety of relatable scenarios, while bold outlining provides eye-catching contrast. A cast of whimsical and diverse cartoon-style children have vibrant, expressive faces that show readers how it’s gonna go. Sometimes that friend with the oversized cymbals deserves that “Loud no.” There’s a regretful “no” over a ruined kite. A “small no” after a run-in with a cactus. Evocatively shaped and sized speech bubbles help communicate mood and tone. Some pages speak to caregivers—who hasn’t experienced the “hangry no” supermarket slump? Others will tickle children and adults alike, like a scene in which a feisty child streaks naked from the bathtub. Some “no”s are personal, like rejecting a gnarly pair of striped pants, while others, like a group of kiddos with protest signs, are a “very important no.” By reminding readers that saying no isn’t automatically negative but rather “part of growing” and developing self and autonomy, Kirwan showcases an oft-overlooked step in “learning how to be a big kid.” (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A fresh and charming take on “growing a voice.” This “no” book is a big yes. (Board book. 2-5)Pub Date: April 4, 2023
ISBN: 9781665932417
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
An instructive tale about big feelings, lightened up by a furious kid’s theatrics.
An angry child attempts to calm down.
A kid with paper-white skin, clad in a blue dress and striped tights, makes an absurd request: “Can we get a pet penguin, name it Marshmallow, and feed it carrots?” Mom, off-stage, says simply, “Not today,” and the tot transforms into a rather odd creature: a spicy nugget! The nugget is imperfectly ovoid in form, with red rosy cheeks, rage-filled dot-eyes, and a spiraling black-hole mouth. The sight gag works beautifully: When one feels truly angry, all poise disappears, leaving only a flailing ball of rage. Our protagonist hurls a teddy bear, unsuccessfully tries out a list of calming methods, and finally retreats to bed, where “I can feel my breathing; I know that I am safe.” The youngster reverts back to human form, and Mom arrives with kind words: “You are not your big feelings. You are not your angry thoughts.” The takeaway is unmistakable, especially at the story’s conclusion: It’s OK to get mad and important to practice coping strategies. The young narrator expresses emotion with fabulous vigor, though the story’s lilting rhyme scheme occasionally distracts from these outbursts with cuteness. Nonetheless, this increasingly enraged nugget-child is irresistible; anyone who’s grappled with overwhelming emotions will relate—in a word, everyone.
An instructive tale about big feelings, lightened up by a furious kid’s theatrics. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026
ISBN: 9798217042142
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026
SEEN & HEARD
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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