An absorbing introduction to a talented showman and athlete, marred by a problematically framed conclusion.
Russian American swimmer Charles Zibelman wowed audiences with his stamina and flair for drama.
Born in St. Petersburg in 1893, Charles (later nicknamed Zimmy) soon relocated to Chicago; like other Jewish families targeted by pogroms, the Zibelmans fled the country for a better life. At age 9, Charles was hit by a trolley, and his legs were amputated. Undaunted, he attached a roller skate to a board and propelled himself with his arms. He made money by offering swimming demonstrations (his missing legs allowed him to bounce “like a cork” in the water). Dubbing himself Zimmy, the Human Fish, he performed at carnivals and competed in international endurance contests. Noting his declining American audiences, the cigar-smoking showman decided to do something impressive in 1937: swim the Hudson River for 145 miles from Albany to New York City. After six days, he succeeded, setting a new record. Shepperson’s cartoon illustrations vividly convey both setting and Zimmy’s determination, while Adler’s text is upbeat and engaging, with well-chosen biographical details (for instance, Zimmy’s insistence that “cigars were as important to him as goggles”). The book’s final lines, however, offer a dubious takeaway: “Zimmy was unique. He refused to allow his disability to limit him.” Adler risks implying that disabled people facing societal or physical barriers simply aren’t trying hard enough. Most figures, including Zimmy, present white.
An absorbing introduction to a talented showman and athlete, marred by a problematically framed conclusion. (source notes) (Picture-book biography. 6-8)Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
ISBN: 9780823455508
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2025
An absolute pleasure.
A small dog takes a huge leap.
True to her name, sled dog puppy Leap spends her days bounding happily through blankets of freshly fallen snow, bouncily biding her time until she, too, can suit up for a run with the team. Each dog brings a different, equally essential skill to the work of mushing, and as too-young Leap greets the pack when they return from their daily hike, she worries—what if she lacks a special talent of her own when it’s her time to race? But when the much-anticipated day arrives and Leap clips in for her rookie run, her feet tippity-tap excitedly, any trace of self-doubt eclipsed by her irrepressible enthusiasm. With their new addition in tow, the other dogs take off, buoyed as ever by a confidence borne from specialized expertise; they confront obstacles head-on, sailing easily along icy Northwoods terrain. That is until the team encounters a seemingly insurmountable hurdle, one that only their greenest member can clear. Dogsled racer Braverman’s sweet narrative builds a satisfying case for individuality as a community asset, celebrating both the value of teamwork and the discrete strengths that comprise it. Savvy readers will take pride in predicting Leap’s unique contribution, while canine lovers will delight in the revelation that the pups depicted are all real-life sled dogs working in northern Wisconsin. When’s illustrations are equal parts spellbinding and precious, deftly balancing compositional simplicity with masterful color work. The result is peerless.
An absolute pleasure. (author’s note) (Picture book. 6-9)Pub Date: Oct. 21, 2025
ISBN: 9780063238053
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2025
An important reminder that, in the quest for friendship, who you truly are is more than enough.
Ivan, a young Black boy with a big, beautiful Afro, is such a skilled street skater that his friends have nicknamed him Epic.
When he and his family move to a new inner-city neighborhood, for the first time he finds himself without a clique to cheer him on or learn new skating stunts from. “You never landed a new trick on the first try,” his dad reminds him. “Keep an open mind, and you’ll meet new friends.” In an attempt to fit in with the neighborhood kids, Epic tries his hand at various other sports without success. Seeing his discouragement, his parents suggest that he skate down to the bodega for a treat. On his way there, Epic performs a scintillating series of skateboarding maneuvers, unaware that several kids of various ages are observing him with great interest. Only when he arrives at the bodega does he realize that he’s unwittingly found himself a new skating crew. Morrison’s upbeat narrative slides along smoothly, mirroring the energy and panache of its protagonist, and at times slips comfortably into African American Vernacular English. Skateboarding terminology is scattered liberally throughout the text, but readers unfamiliar with the jargon will feel the lack of a glossary. Morrison's illustrations—rendered in oil with their trademark graffiti-inspired, urban mannerist style—use interesting perspectives, silhouetting, and continuous narration to create a free-wheeling sense of Epic’s, well, epicness. Most characters are Black; a few illustrations include diverse representation.
An important reminder that, in the quest for friendship, who you truly are is more than enough. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: April 19, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0592-7
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2022
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