A thoughtful storytime pick to get little ones asking big questions.
Two children learn lessons in acceptance as they peer across a book’s gutter.
The youngsters, both light-skinned with short brown hair, approach a tall hedge dividing the open white space of the page. One of them, wearing a solid-colored shirt, says to the other, clad in a striped shirt, “You really have to wonder what they are thinking.” But who are “they”? An amorphous sphere of green, blue, and white forms floats on the other side of the hedge, apparently invisible to the protagonists, as the first child explains, “Them. The other people.” Notions of us vs. them break down as the more open-minded youngster poses questions that suggest that the two children might have more in common with the unseen people than they realize. Meanwhile, the position of the hedge, dividing the spread in half, deftly reinforces the sense of opposition and separation that undergird the story’s thematic structure. As the kids establish that the “others” likely have thoughts, feelings, and connections, figures in the once-shapeless blob become fully human. Finally, the child in stripes rebels against the hedge’s physical divide and climbs over to the other side, an act that prompts debate, giving way to some profound conclusions: “Maybe there’s just us? And maybe we are all here together.” Probing text, made up entirely of dialogue, pairs cleverly designed layouts for a compelling tale that suggests that it’s ignorance that truly divides us—and knowledge that unites us.
A thoughtful storytime pick to get little ones asking big questions. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
ISBN: 9780593839676
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available.
A ghost learns to appreciate his differences.
The little ghost protagonist of this title is unusual. He’s a quilt, not a lightweight sheet like his parents and friends. He dislikes being different despite his mom’s reassurance that his ancestors also had unconventional appearances. Halloween makes the little ghost happy, though. He decides to watch trick-or-treaters by draping over a porch chair—but lands on a porch rail instead. A mom accompanying her daughter picks him up, wraps him around her chilly daughter, and brings him home with them! The family likes his looks and comforting warmth, and the little ghost immediately feels better about himself. As soon as he’s able to, he flies out through the chimney and muses happily that this adventure happened only due to his being a quilt. This odd but gently told story conveys the importance of self-respect and acceptance of one’s uniqueness. The delivery of this positive message has something of a heavy-handed feel and is rushed besides. It also isn’t entirely logical: The protagonist could have been a different type of covering; a blanket, for instance, might have enjoyed an identical experience. The soft, pleasing illustrations’ palette of tans, grays, white, black, some touches of color, and, occasionally, white text against black backgrounds suggest isolation, such as the ghost feels about himself. Most humans, including the trick-or-treating mom and daughter, have beige skin. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-16.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 66.2% of actual size.)
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7352-6447-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
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
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