An adorable hamster, a fire engine, and fireworks: high preschooler appeal.
Stanley the hamster and friends show the parts and uses of his fire engine.
Bee’s hamster is back again, this time using his fire engine to help friends and assist with a fireworks display. Stanley’s truck itself might look a bit unfamiliar to little readers, as it isn’t a modern shiny vehicle but rather a 1940s version used in Great Britain, with a wooden ladder and large wheel that ratchets it up protruding from the rear. In a 90-degree turn sure to delight little ones, readers see Stanley atop the wooden ladder, its gears and wheel on display. Together with his chipmunk friend Peggy, Stanley uses the fire engine for kid-friendly activities, such as rescuing kites from a tree, filling a baby pool, and standing by at a fireworks show. In fact, the only real mention of firefighting is when mouse friend Charlie’s barbecue goes awry. Bee’s illustrations, familiar to Stanley fans, are simply wrought, black-outlined images mostly presented against white backgrounds. The two layouts that vary stand out as a result: the bursting fireworks against a dark blue sky and Stanley’s nighttime arrival at home, a blue-washed scene with a gorgeous glowing lantern. Both will earn a lingering look of awe from readers.
An adorable hamster, a fire engine, and fireworks: high preschooler appeal. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68263-214-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2020
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say.
A dog-loving child encourages a less-than-enthusiastic younger one to imagine they’re both canines.
From the first declaration—“I’d be a big dog! And you’d be a little one!”—readers know who’s calling the shots. Initially, the protagonists cavort off the page and through the neighborhood together, performing doggy capers such as tail wagging, stick carrying, and dirt digging. But by the time they encounter a multitude of like-minded creatures at the dog park, the disgruntled small pup is exhibiting out-and-out rebellion: “Being a dog is YOUR idea! Sometimes I HAVE IDEAS TOO!” The narrative wraps up with the younger child pretending to be a different animal entirely—cleverly foreshadowed through subtle details in the illustrations. Even the endpapers—lively silhouettes of dogs in the beginning and many different animals in closing—extend the theme to suggest the imaginative possibilities of pretend play. Cheerful, lightly hued colors fit the whimsical mood, while expressive body language allows the art to tell the story with a minimum of words. Ending on a surprising note, with a sweet compromise between the two main characters, the tale gives both kids the freedom to embrace their own preferences and styles—while still enjoying their game.
Perfect for every underdog who wants to have a say. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9780316581721
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
A funny tale about stress and an ever upping ante, with a comforting end.
Something is preventing Owl from falling asleep.
Owl leans back against his white pillow and headboard. “Squeek!” says something underneath the bed. Owl’s never heard that sound before, so he fastens his pink bathrobe and answers the front door. Nobody. It must be the wind; back to bed. Bidding himself goodnight, he climbs into bed—and hears the noise again. Time after time, he pops out of bed seeking the squeaker. Is it in the cupboard? He empties the shelves. Under the floor? He pulls up his floorboards. As Owl’s actions ratchet up—he destroys the roof and smashes the walls, all in search of the squeak—so does his anxiety. Not until he hunkers down in bed under the night sky (his bed is now outdoors, because the house’s roof and walls are gone), frantically clutching his pillow, does he see what readers have seen all along: a small, gray mouse. In simple illustrations with black outlines, textured coloring, and foreshortened perspective, Pizzoli plays mischievously with mouse placement. Sometimes the mouse is behind Owl or just out of his sightline; other times, the mouse is on a solid, orange-colored page across the spread from Owl, which removes him from Owl’s scene in a rather postmodern manner. Is the mouse toying with Owl? Who knows?
A funny tale about stress and an ever upping ante, with a comforting end. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: April 19, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4847-1275-7
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2016
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