A quirky cat tale that should also spur empathy in young readers.
A most unusual feline learns that three isn’t a crowd.
With her fluffy pinkish-purplish fur, 10 paws, and pair of antennae, Kitty Caterpillar may not look like most cats, but rest assured: She’s all feline. She loves nothing more than playing with her owner, tan-skinned young Hazel. But today an interloper has infiltrated the “kittydom”—Hazel has invited Benny the dachshund over for a slumber party. Just as imperious Kitty Caterpillar is the epitome of all things cat, slobbery, tail-wagging, messy Benny exudes doggy goofiness. When Hazel fingerpaints, Kitty Caterpillar delicately daubs green pawprints onto the canvas, but Benny spills paint everywhere. And when it’s time to wash up, Kitty Caterpillar meticulously licks her “kitty mitties,” while Benny leaps into a basin of water, splashing an irritated Kitty. Kitty Caterpillar stalks off but is horrified later to see Hazel playing with Benny. What about Kitty Caterpillar?! But the initially jealous cat is all tenderness when she hears a lonely, homesick Benny whimpering that night. Bondor-Stone and White infuse their inspired tale with clever wordplay and impressive vocabulary; a repeated refrain (“Slink…Slink…Peek,” “Slink…Slink…POUNCE!”) captures the essence of their feline protagonist’s sinuous movements. Barrager’s vividly hued illustrations are a perfect complement. Kids struggling with jealousy will find a kindred spirit in Kitty Caterpillar, while gentle Hazel, who makes time for both animals, may inspire parents and caregivers.
A quirky cat tale that should also spur empathy in young readers. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 23, 2027
ISBN: 9781250392886
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2026
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
Serve this superbly designed title to all who relish slightly scary stories.
Kids know vegetables can be scary, but rarely are edible roots out to get someone. In this whimsical mock-horror tale, carrots nearly frighten the whiskers off Jasper Rabbit, an interloper at Crackenhopper Field.
Jasper loves carrots, especially those “free for the taking.” He pulls some in the morning, yanks out a few in the afternoon, and comes again at night to rip out more. Reynolds builds delicious suspense with succinct language that allows understatements to be fully exploited in Brown’s hilarious illustrations. The cartoon pictures, executed in pencil and then digitally colored, are in various shades of gray and serve as a perfectly gloomy backdrop for the vegetables’ eerie orange on each page. “Jasper couldn’t get enough carrots … / … until they started following him.” The plot intensifies as Jasper not only begins to hear the veggies nearby, but also begins to see them everywhere. Initially, young readers will wonder if this is all a product of Jasper’s imagination. Was it a few snarling carrots or just some bathing items peeking out from behind the shower curtain? The ending truly satisfies both readers and the book’s characters alike. And a lesson on greed goes down like honey instead of a forkful of spinach.
Serve this superbly designed title to all who relish slightly scary stories. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 21, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0297-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 1, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2012
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