Gutman’s saucy bunny (Lisa in New York, not reviewed, etc.) contends with the imminent arrival of a new sibling. Lisa succinctly expresses her displeasure with her mother’s pregnancy. “My mom has been pregnant for a very long time, and I am tired of it. . . . She’s too fat to play on the seesaw with me. There’s a baby in her belly, and I don’t like it.” Traditional methods of soothing a recalcitrant sibling do not work with this precocious tot; Lisa is clearly unimpressed with tales of her older sister Victoria’s jealousy over Lisa’s arrival and eventual acceptance. Lisa’s staunch refusal of being involved with anything baby-related persists even after baby Lila comes home from the hospital. It is not until Lisa overhears a friend remark upon the similarities between Lila and Lisa, that she reevaluates the situation. Gutman strikes just the right balance between belligerence and vulnerability that children often experience when confronted with both the concept and reality of a new sibling. Lisa’s straight-from-the hip talk will resonate with readers, conveying to them that it’s acceptable to feel conflicted about the big change looming in their lives. Hallensleben’s heavily pigmented illustrations artfully capture the sights of urban life. Young Lisa serenely strolls past avant-garde sculptures and dines in outdoor cafes with the aplomb of a city dweller. His deft use of a colorful array of hues draws the reader’s attention. Unerringly honest and every bit hilarious, this is a zesty addition to Gutman and Hallensleben’s popular series. (Picture book. 4-8)
Pub Date: March 1, 2003
ISBN: 0-375-82251-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2003
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators.
Existing artwork from an artistic giant inspires a fairy-tale reimagination by a master of the horror genre.
In King’s interpretation of a classic Brothers Grimm story, which accompanies set and costume designs that the late Sendak created for a 1997 production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera, siblings Hansel and Gretel survive abandonment in the woods and an evil witch’s plot to gobble them up before finding their “happily ever after” alongside their father. Prose with the reassuring cadence of an old-timey tale, paired with Sendak’s instantly recognizable artwork, will lull readers before capitalizing on these creators’ knack for injecting darkness into seemingly safe spaces. Gaping faces loom in crevices of rocks and trees, and a gloomy palette of muted greens and ocher amplify the story’s foreboding tone, while King never sugarcoats the peach-skinned children’s peril. Branches with “clutching fingers” hide “the awful enchanted house” of a “child-stealing witch,” all portrayed in an eclectic mix of spot and full-bleed images. Featuring insults that might strike some as harsh (“idiot,” “fool”), the lengthy, dense text may try young readers’ patience, and the often overwhelmingly ominous mood feels more pitched to adults—particularly those familiar with King and Sendak—but an introduction acknowledges grandparents as a likely audience, and nostalgia may prompt leniency over an occasional disconnect between words and art.
Menacing and most likely to appeal to established fans of its co-creators. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9780062644695
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2025
An endearing ode to big siblinghood.
A buffalo is disconcerted when his daily routine is disrupted by a newborn.
Kalb begins with the playful rhymes and rhythms she employed in Buffalo Fluffalo (2024). Fluffalo, having learned a lesson in cooperation in his earlier outing, happily cavorts with Ram, Crow, and Prairie Dog before enjoying some thoughtful alone time and then settling down to sleep at dusk. A loud wailing sound wakes him at dawn and continues into daybreak. “‘What could that be?’ huffed tired old Fluffalo. / ‘I’ve said it before—I’ve had enuffalo!’” When he discovers that the sound is coming from a tiny buffalo, he becomes both irate and alarmed. Fortunately, his friends show up and assure him that the little one just needs some time to learn and grow. Fluffalo calms down and admits that the baby is a bit cute—something readers will have already realized, thanks to Kraan’s sweetly imaginative art. In the ensuing pages, Fluffalo mentors the loving Puffalo, including the baby in his daily activities and fielding (some of) Puff’s many questions. Readers with younger siblings will appreciate the subtle acknowledgment that Fluffalo’s new role can be taxing, but overall, the tale affirms the joy of mentoring, while the colorful, stylized art perfectly complements the upbeat verse. It’s easy to imagine an older child reading this story to a younger one at bedtime.
An endearing ode to big siblinghood. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9780593810309
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Random House Studio
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
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